Truth-Straight From the Horse's Mouth

truth-straight-from-the-horses-mouth

Photo by Rebekah L. Holt, eQuest Photography

Truth—Straight From the Horse's Mouth 

By Rebekah L. Holt

Written October 2009

 

    Recently I traveled a 500 mile round trip in the hopes to purchase and bring home a horse.  I had spent several days exchanging emails, phone calls, and looking at pictures considering this filly and discussing her merits and flaws with her owners.  The filly's description sounded very reasonable to make every preparation of the purchase and the long trip.  Yet, upon actually "seeing" this filly, I found that her owners' descriptions were not what I had been led to believe. An issue of perspective had arisen.  They had told me only half-truths.  I came home with an empty trailer.

    This made me wonder—what makes one perspective truthful and another dishonest?  What is the standard of truth?  What is truth?

    For the Christian, the answer is simple.

"Jesus saith unto him, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh to the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).

Christ is the source of truth. Christ is the standard of truth.

    This is why people who are not subject to Christ cannot have the same truthful perspective of circumstances. Unbelievers or "token Christians" may be able to recognize and value honesty—yet—they are incapable of a serious Christian outlook. Without Christ as a foundation, eyes are clouded, judgments are clouded, and actions are clouded.

Why such an emphasis on truth?

    As followers of Christ, we are to mirror His image, an image that is the very Alpha and Omega of truth. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:18).  The alternative is to be as the devil who is devoid of truth (John 8:44) and from the beginning, has by words and actions, denied the truth of God's word and encouraged others to do the same (Genesis 3:4,5).

Scripture study reveals that truth should permeate all facets of our lives.

   Bible believing Christian can rest in knowing that they can know truth.  "Howbeit, when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth" (John 16:13a).

    Scripture tells us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ. "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2). This means a continual work must take place in our lives.

    Christians are to be of one accord and like minded—to think on the same page! "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind" (Philippians 2:2).

    Again, if we submit our lives to Christ, we are going to be able to have an honest perspective and not be idyllic illustrators of half truths.

Conclusion

    My unsuccessful horse buying trip was not wasted—it made me think about Christian character and delve into a Biblical study of this "rare jewel" of character.   By continuing in my search, I did find a different filly from a local horseman from whom I could trust the integrity of his word.

    Truth is priceless.  It is to rule our lives, our emotions, our feelings, our thoughts, our "worldview."—the very core of who we are.  Otherwise, we will not be like Christ. We will not enjoy the fullness of Christ without becoming a peculiarly honest people in the midst of a crooked and depraved generation.

"For you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him, Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).

Truth—straight from the horse's mouth. Go straight to the source—Jesus Christ.