The Truth

The truth is so hard that only those who are of the truth can bear to hear it. We must love the truth so we can be in a state to receive it. By its firmness the truth creates fair and upright circumstances and people who see faithfulness and love behind all the truth’s stripes and words. Proverbs 27:5-6. Those who do not love the truth conclude that it is too hard and judging, that it does not suit them. We cannot be saved in such a state. Instead of hearing what the truth has to give as something re­freshing and liberating, such people only hear their own voice: “Spare Yourself!” Consequently, they find an easier way in the Scriptures, therefore He “also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and laws by which they could not live.” Ezekiel 20:25. As a result, they suffer eternal loss by despising the liberating power of the truth. Let us not be one of those who turn to fables and the things that tickle the ears. It is bad enough that those who do not have a higher calling do such things. Our calling is to be living stones, skilled in the word of righteousness, partaking of a love that is stronger than death. When Peter spoke to the people, they were cut to the heart; this is the effect of the word of truth. Everything that is flesh is mercilessly exposed, and the truth casts its light into the innermost recesses of the heart. The vain person says, “These are hard words, who can bear them?” However, those who have seen that nothing good dwells in their flesh not only bear the truth, they also rejoice over its liberating judgment. Let the righteous strike me in love and chasten me! My head shall not refuse such oil! Psalm 141:5.