“I planted myself upon the truth, and the truth only, so, as far I knew it, or could be brought to know it.” Abraham Lincoln
Pursuing truth relentlessly advances freedom. Lies and deception bring pain and bondage.
Truth has the power to pierce feelings, emotions, heart – our souls
Truth pierces cultures, religion and family traditions, when we seek the truth, we are freed from self and enemy deception. As men, fathers, grandfathers, uncles, shepherds, teachers – no matter your office or title – for leaders at all levels and echelons, choosing truth before all else releases freedom to those we serve, and ourselves.
As a young Marine I went to a selection course to enter the Marine Corps reconnaissance community and become a Recon Marine. It was day one for us, and the group of Marines who remained the first afternoon after numerous physical training and swimming events sat in the bleachers waiting. A Staff Sergeant stepped in front of us and started with…, “We will begin with a couple rules for you as you start your journey to becoming Recon Marines. First, never lie, and next, always be on time, these are not negotiable.” He continued with the “why” – When on a mission and you radio back to the command center, and tell us pigs are flying across the battlefield, your commander will turn to the general and tell him with confidence pigs are flying across the battlefield.” Sure, the example was exaggerated, but the point was received – be truthful.
You see, the information provided to leaders drove decisions impacting lives and cascaded across the larger battlefield. My journey with walking in truth began with my desire to achieve an identity before pleasing my Father in Heaven. There is nothing wrong wanting to achieve a goal, to be part of something unique – part of a “Gideon Team” or “King David’s mighty men of valor” – it’s what God created men to do, but achieving this goal wasn’t for Him, it was for me. – more on identity, pride and humility in later articles.
All men are called to lead
Men are called to lead. Active spiritual leadership requires us to walk in truth even more. Too many Christian men are passive spiritual leaders, who walk in varying levels of compromise while leading spiritually at home. The effects of compromise on our nation’s families broken homes and shattered families. Men have listened to the world view on leadership, an untruthful voice leading us astray.
When we recognize we are lost or off course, we need to go back to the last known point, or move quickly to our course line, and get back on our “way.” Jesus Christ is our Truth, our Way – He leads us in truth across the battlefield.
Over the past 15 years or so in my day-to-day activities I have heard different variances of “that’s his/her truth” or “you have your truth, and they have their truth” etc. I thought to myself, no there is one truth and different perspectives, or opinions…, and in many cases outright lies. Oddly, enough I found out the term or word lie, or liar was very offensive to people, and I’m not even talking about offensive by the one who was lying. The preferred language seems to be something along the lines of “inaccuracy” or “mischaracterization.” Oddly, we call one who runs a runner, one who swims a swimmer, one who leads a leader, and one who commits adultery and adulterer, one who murders a murderer, one who steals a thief, but for some reason when someone lies, we change the term to something more palatable.
Our atmosphere has become saturated with the sound of our enemy – slurs, smears, falsehoods, fabrication, hyperbole, deceit, inaccuracies and untruthfulness, and it appears many people are desensitized to knowing and operating in truth for many motives. This environment is where our enemy Satan and his forces operate and thrive as they accomplish the mission of Satan – to kill, steal and destroy God’s most precious creation – God’s children, His family.
What is truth and do we recognize truth?
Christians, those putting their faith, hope and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Redeemer look to the “Word” of God, Jesus Christ as our truth. The prince of the power of the air – Satan – tries to and keep us from seeing, hearing and recognizing Truth if we permit him, allow deception, or are ignorant to the enemy’s schemes. If a Christian believes they can’t be deceived by Satan or his forces…, lookout you’re probably deceived already and operating from a spirit of pride. Ouch!
God has warned us repeatedly be watchful, wary, and test to verify if what we believe is truth. Truth has righteous and Godly fruit, anything else produces ungodly fruit.
At the Last Supper we see Jesus’ closest friends and disciples not fully recognize truth.
Jesus was only hours before His crucifixion and completing His work on earth and was with His disciples for the Last Supper. During this time, we see the disciples like us, not recognizing Jesus – one betrayed Him to religious leaders for money, one denied Him 3 times out of fear, a few bickered about who would be greater – all while in front of Truth Himself.
We too can be standing in front of the Truth and not recognize or see Him. We misalign our priorities, seek money and power, defend our behaviors, reject Jesus, fear an unholy man before fearing and loving our Righteous Savior and God.
All of us have been caught in the trap of the enemy and lied some time in our lives. The reason we lie is no great mystery. We lie to achieve or protect our own interests, agendas, gain power or money or both, manipulate, cover low self-esteem, impress someone, we fear, and the list continues. Yet, Jesus loves us anyway and longs for us to pursue Him; and seek truth, advance our freedom and walk in abundant life. We must reject the father of lies. Don’t let your distraction lead to destruction.
Is there some other truth?
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth (G225 truth – “aletheia” He whom the truth is summed up and impersonated), and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6 ESV). God’s truth is the sum of His words – uttered and written. “The sum (H7218 sum – “ro’s” take the sum, enumerate, compare) of your word (H1697 word – “dabar” speech, utterances, act, thing, matter) is truth (H571 truth “emet” divine instruction), and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.” (Psa 119:160 ESV). Forever means eternity. Jesus has always been, was the One who spoke the world, and all its life into existence – yes, He was present at the very beginning.
There is no other truth; there is one who twists and perverts’ truth and is the father of lies.
Let’s look at the conversation between Pilate and Jesus in John 18. “37 Then Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world–to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.’ 38 Pilate said to him, ‘What is truth?’ After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, ‘I find no guilt in him.’” (John 18:37-38 ESV) – Did you get that, one of Jesus Christ’s purposes was to bear witness, demonstrate truth – Truth, the embodiment and very essence of truth was standing in front of Pilate, yet Pilate could not see or recognize truth – he listened to another voice.
The source of lies
Jesus tells us plainly lies come from Satan. We see this truth clearly as Jesus admonishes and rebukes the Pharisees (Jewish religious leaders), “44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44 ESV)
God’s Spirit – Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth
God’s word tells us God’s Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Satan copies and twists the things of God to deceive and serve Satan’s mission. Satan twisted God’s word with Adam and Eve – who acted on a lie and the curse has followed mankind since. Satan did the same when he tempted Jesus, and he challenged Jesus Christ’s identity. Satan uses the same tactic, techniques and procedures today.
Truth drives and forms our beliefs.
Truth forms our beliefs and is essential in personal and professional relationships, with medical doctors and patients, it’s imperative for justice systems, financial institutions / banks and patrons – just consider a bank “mischaracterizing” how much money you deposited in their favor, my sense is you would want truth; truth is critical between governments and the people governed. We should expect truth from others, better yet, we must insist on truth. And we must teach truth to our children and raise them in truth to break the curse and cycle of lies and deception over our families.
We may live in the natural, but we are in a spiritual war
The impact of not operating in truth on the battlefield has severe consequences and impacts others. Whether you like it or not, you’re in the battle. You entered the battlefield the day you were conceived. Navigating and succeeding in the battle requires following a true course, direction and way (way of life). Jesus Christ provides us our True compass and way of life.
As men and leaders, we must follow and lead in truth. A familiar military term for warfighters and planners is – “no plan survives first contact with the enemy.” The phrase is not an excuse, it tells us to plan well, train and shape the environment. In warfare, when leaders and warriors fail to prepare and shape the environment; when they fail to follow instructions – the outcome is disastrous.
When we don’t lead in truth, our enemy the devil gains access to us in the spiritual battlefield. As leaders in our homes, we must prepare those under our charge for spiritual battle, we must do all we can to shape the environment – God has given us instructions, plans, training and weapons to crush the enemy.
Jesus desires us to pursue Him fully, while Satan’s goal is to keep you from pursuing Jesus fully. The enemy knows the closer you are to Jesus Christ, the more dangerous you are to Satan and his kingdom. That’s the TRUTH.
The battlefield requires disciples operating in truth, not just converts.
Please comment on the article and share with others. God Bless You!
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1) Abraham Lincoln speech at Springfield, IL July 17, 1858
2) John 15:26 ESV – “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”
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