What is truth?

Mr. Webster says: Truth is conformity with fact or reality; a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle or the like; state or character of being true; actuality or actual existence.

Everyone seems to be searching for truth. Most of us don't enjoy being lied to or taken advantage of. We want people to be honest and real with us.

There's a call going forth to God's people today, a call for integrity. Many people in the world, today, are not very honest. They are deceivers and habitual liars. Some don't even realize what they are doing. I know people who are professional liars. They can look you right in the eyeball and lie to you with a straight face. These people need to be set free by the power of God. The truth is the only thing that will set them free.

Proverbs 12:19 - The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

There are so many scams and so much disloyalty and dishonesty in the world system today, that it sometimes makes me wonder if there's hope. After thinking about it for a while, I realize there is hope and this hope is found in Jesus. He is the truth that will set us free.

I, personally, don't like being around people who habitually lie and deceive with their cunning, crafty words. I believe it's important for us to speak the truth to these people, in love, so Jesus can set them free. Someone needs to confront them. It's not always easy to confront people. I don't enjoy confrontation, but it will be required of all of us, at some point in time, especially if we are in a leadership position.

Leaders, let me speak to you a minute. None of us likes to confront. We would rather let things go and hope for the best. When we do that, the problem or situation usually gets bigger, not better. It's imperative that we confront when the Lord is telling us to confront, otherwise, we will have some real problems on our hands because of our disobedience. It may not be easy, but the Lord will give us grace to speak under His anointing.

Proverbs 12:17 - He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit.

Truth penetrates to the heart and divides between the soul and spirit. Truth circumcizes our hearts by cutting away the false. Truth drives out death and brings life to the very depths of man's innermost being. Truth causes us to see what we've never seen before. Truth exposes and uncovers that which is not of God. We not only need to hear the truth, we need to see truth in action.

Psalm 51:6 - Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

Why don't we stand for truth and speak out against untruth when we know it's the right thing to do? I believe fear is the main reason. We are afraid to speak out the truth because the words we speak may not be received by those hearing them. We are afraid of being rejected. Remember Moses, when God called him to deliver the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage? He said, "What if they won't believe me? What if they ask Your name? By the way Lord, what is Your name? What will I tell them if they won't believe me?" Moses didn't want to be rejected. He'd been that route before and didn't want to pass that way again. If we will just learn to speak the truth, God will take care of the rest. He's our defender! He's our protector. I like the phrase, "Just do it! Do it afraid if you have to. Just do it!" You'll find that once you face those fears and "just do it," it will be easier the next time.

I was afraid to fly in an airplane. Just the thought of having to get on an airplane made me tremble. God sure does have a sense of humor. He called me to be a missionary evangelist - traveling preacher - which meant that I would either have to fly or walk on the water. I figured the first choice would probably be the best since my faith level is not that high yet. When I faced the fear of flying and "just did it," the power of that fear was broken over my life. Now, I fly all over the world ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must face our fears so the power of them will be broken, otherwise, we will be hindered by them. We cannot allow anything to hinder what God wants to do in us or through us. He has big plans for His people.

Pray for the Lord to give you boldness to speak the truth in love to those around you. If this has been an area of weakness in your life, God wants to strengthen that area. Please don't misunderstand what I'm trying to say. Don't use truth as a means of speaking against people and causing division in the church. That's not what I'm saying. Speak the truth, in love. If you cannot speak the truth, in love, then you need to not speak at all. God is looking at the attitudes of our hearts. Our hearts must be right before Him at all times.

May the truth of His word set you free today. May His truth prevail in your life and in the lives of those around you. There is so much that we don't know or understand, but God wants to reveal those things to us by His Spirit. We just need to have spiritual ears to hear what He is saying.