Telling The Truth

"Sanctify them in the truth." John 17:17

Part of coming to know God intimately is hearing the truth about ourselves. We need someone who will tell us the truth.

We don't do that with each other. We don't tell people the truth because we don't want to offend them or make them mad at us. Besides, all of us like being lied to occasionally. No woman wants to ask, "How do you like my new dress?" and hear, "Worst thing I ever saw in my life."

No one wants to hear that! And even though we may think a piece of clothing or a hairstyle is the worst we have sever seen, we aren't about to say so because people don't' want the truth. Therefore, our relationships are often shallow and never get to where they are supposed to be.

You don't have that problem with God. God calls it as He sees it. He's not going to tell you, "I'm okay, you're okay." He's going to tell you, "You are dead in your trespasses and in your sins." He's not going to make it comfortable or convenient for you. When God begins to unveil who He is, it also unveils who we are.

That's the problem Peter had when he ran into Jesus Christ at the lake and found out who he was. Peter fell on his face and said, "I am a sinful man." (Luke 5:8).

The Prophet Isaiah saw the Lord and cried out, "Woe is me!" (Isaiah 6:5). Why? Because if you want the real deal with God, you are going to get the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and some of it's not going to be pleasant.

But God doesn't tell you the truth about yourself and then leave you where you are. Like a good doctor, He tells you you're sick so you will get the proper treatment. The proper treatment for sin is salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, who provided forgiveness for our sins by His death on the cross.

You can never know God until you are properly related to Him through Christ. If you have never come to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith, today would be a great day to do that.

Think about it: Have you ever thanked God for telling you the truth about yourself?

By Tony Evans, taken from "Time to Get Serious"