The Truth About Truth

     Webster defines truth as, that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality. Many things have been said and written about truth, it is so simple a child can understand, and yet so complex, it alludes most people. Therefore,  I feel compelled to address it. Truth is indestructible, it is everlasting, more rare, and far more valuable than diamonds or gold. You can try to hide the truth, camouflage it, bury it, disguise it, or corrupt it in a million different ways, but no matter what you do, it remains unchanged and will always find a way to be discovered. It is a term often used by people least familiar with it, and least likely to apply it in their lives. Truth can be ugly at times but the pursuit and use of it is always beautiful. Truth requires no deliberation, memory skills, or effort. Truth requires no explanation nor affirmation, while a lie always will. It has been said, that a truth that causes harm is far better than a useful lie. There are way too many things that can and should be said about truth, but there simply is not enough time or pages. Did you know that God tells us not to swear to the truth? Read: Mathew 5:34-37. If truth is so good, why is it often used only as a last resort? From childhood, we learn to use deceit to escape consequences. We learned how to manipulate and distort the truth, to change the outcome of a given situation and make it more favorable to ourselves. Often, truth will appear to stand in our way of getting what we desire and that is when the decision is made to hide, distort, or completely do away with it. Each time we do this, we enslave ourselves to that lie. My mother used to tell me you have to tell five more lies to cover up each lie you tell. And it does not take long to be so entangled in deceit, there is no easy escape. John 8:32 tells us that the truth will make you free. God’s word tells us, “whatsoever we sow, that shall we reap”. So even though a lie may appear to be an easier choice at the time, ultimately it will make things far worse than the repercussions of telling the truth!