Truth is...

This verse comes toward the end of a story about Jesus healing a man who had been born blind. The religious leaders were upset that Jesus had worked this miracle on the Sabbath and were grilling the formerly-blind beggar.

It has set me to thinking about what Jesus has done to me and how he opened my eyes.

• Gave me parents who never treated church as an optional thing.
• Gave me a mind that appreciates the logical points of apologetics, showing me that faith in Christ isn't just "because the Bible says so."
• Softened my heart to feel my need for a Savior.
• Made sure Josh McDowell's Evidence That Demands a Verdict got published.
• Put a young man named Wendell in my life who modeled excitement for the Word and the power of Jesus to transform lives.
• Moved Bob Stacey to create a ministry named "Christ in Youth."
• Led David Meece to write the song "We Are the Reason."
• Has placed me within church congregations and meaningful relationships that have increased my experience of his love and my internal database of wisdom.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...while Jesus is the only way to have intimacy with God, there are many paths that lead to Jesus. What's yours?

      

Some people have had a little bit-o-trouble with this verse. Historically, Martin Luther was one of them.

It seems the conviction that salvation cannot be earned, while correct, has made the word work distasteful. "Sola Fide! Faith alone!"

It might help to know that the word translated spirit here can also mean breath...or even wind. The Names of God Bible takes that into account and translates the verse like this:

A body that doesn’t breathe is dead.
In the same way, faith that does nothing is dead.

I may have faith that a tightrope walker can safely carry me on a cable strung hundreds of feet above the ground, but if I never let the guy pick me up and start balancing his way across the highwire, my supposed faith is meaningless.

If I believe that Jesus not only forgives me, but transforms me, that has to affect what I do and say. It's not enough to "just believe." James said in verse 19, "Even the demons believe  -  and they shudder."

Don't misunderstand me. I am not saying we work our way to salvation. I am saying that our salvation will work its way out into the world through our feet, our hands, and our mouths.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...The proof really is in the pudding.

      

According to verse 24, the person being talked about here is a "hateful person." In other translations, he is known as "an enemy."

Whatever you call him, he is no stranger.

• He is the government official who signs a treaty he never intends to honor.
• He is the politician who promises unity while targeting different groups.
• He is the friendly, helpful neighbor who gossips behind your back.
• He is the family member who excuses his passive-aggressive comments as jokes.

You know what else he is? He is doomed.

The legislative body will launch an investigation. The church will instigate accountability. The family reunion will become an intervention.

The truth will come out, and, as promised, set you free. That won't necessarily be pleasant for "the hateful person," but it will be a little bit of justice brightening the corner where you are.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...Present circumstances are never the end of the story. 

      

This incident, as Abraham's nephew and his family were fleeing the rain of fire and brimstone that was engulfing Sodom and Gomorrah, kind of reminds me of when Indiana Jones and Marion Ravenwood were present at the opening of the Ark of the Covenant: "Marion, don't look at it. Shut your eyes, Marion. Don't look at it, no matter what happens!"

At least, as a child, that's the way it always seemed: If Lot's wife had just not turned around and looked, she could have escaped and God would not have turned her into salt.

As it usually does, the Amplified Bible sheds some light on the subject:

But Lot’s wife, from behind him, [foolishly, longingly] looked [back toward Sodom in an act of disobedience], and she became a pillar of salt.

Then, in a footnote, it says even more:

"Lot’s wife not only “looked back” to where her interests were, but perhaps lingered behind and was overtaken by the fire and brimstone; her dead body likely became continually encrusted with salt since this disaster occurred in the salt-rich area around the Dead Sea."

Whether her transformation into salt was miraculous or the result of a chemical reaction, what matters is the single word, longingly.

They were supposed to be fleeing, not just the physical fire, but the hotbed of sin and corruption that was Sodom and Gomorrah. The problem Lot's wife seems to have had is that she didn't really want to leave.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...That's the problem a lot of us have with particular sins. The reason we don't truly repent (i.e., turn and go the other direction) is because we don't want to. We like what we're doing and just wish that God would shut his eyes and not look at it, no matter what happens.

      

This verse comes near the end of Paul's lengthy metaphor comparing a human body to the Church  -  calling it the body of Christ.

The idea is, if you hit your thumb with a hammer, your whole body reacts. The opposite hand puts down the hammer. Your mouth sucks the injured thumb while your torso curls in and self-comforts by rocking.

But what about when a member of your spiritual body  -  that group of people you worship and serve and follow Jesus with  -  is in pain or grieving? Do the other members mobilize to provide comfort?

Then there's the other side of the coin.

When a church member receives an honor or experiences success, how do the others react: with happiness or jealousy?

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

Truth is...I'm pretty sure you know what the answers should be and that what the answers are will reveal whether you're attending church or being the church.