by Dr. Foster H. Shannon

“Truth is the coin of the realm.” We expect people to speak the truth to us, and when they do not we resent it. Our God speaks to us in truth. He is absolutely reliable. He can be fully depended upon. Truth is essential to make things work. Truth is vital between husband and wife. Truth is essential in financial dealings. Truth is the goal, but not always the result in our legal processes. I fear that a great deal of lying goes on in our courts. Think of “Curiosity”, the rover that continues to send back exciting information from Mars. Its creation and building had to be in conformity with principles of truth, or it would never have succeeded in its mission. The plan for The Curiosity voyage to Mars had to be in harmony with the truth. If it were not in accord with truth, it would be wandering off in space with an unknown destination. When a student enrolls in college, he or she properly expects the representations of the college to be true.

Yet in our society we seek to excuse departures from the truth. Many of the advertisements that we receive present excessive claims and are deliberately misleading. Many of our politicians have convinced themselves that they could not “succeed” if they had always to tell the truth. Too many people excuse lying, because they think it to be in a good cause. The consequence is that they prove themselves to be unreliable. To the degree that truth is not valued and observed things don’t work, harmony is broken, and human relationships are hurt and destroyed.

A wholesome and healthy marriage is one in which husband and wife speak the truth to one another.

One advantage of telling the truth is that you don’t have to remember what you said last time! As Jesus taught, the truth sets us free. The truth also has great power—illustrated in Jesus’ ministry. His opponents could not stand against the truth that he spoke. Their only resource was to seek to kill him. The scriptures affirm that it is the truth that gives us protection against the powers and forces of evil. Ephesians 6:14a, “Stand therefore, having girded your loins with truth,” If we are looking for spiritual strength—adhering to the truth is a vital commitment. In the long run, truth will always conquer deceit.

John 8:31,32, “Jesus then said to the Jews who had believed in him, If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

WE ARE STRONGER WHEN WE CLEAVE TO THE TRUTH;

WEAKER WHEN WE DEPART FROM IT.