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When is truth a fiction?

by Pastor Nilo Briones (Jesus Word of Life International Church)

Truth is stronger and far better than fiction, as proverbially said. Some would prefer traditions as against to truth. But where can we source out the truth? In these days of loose conviction that some would claim that there is no absolute truth, and such is a preferential thing for every individual, we need to recount the immortal words of Jesus Christ that, “He is the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6a). Jesus’ words are true and worth living for in a world filled with uncertainties. And when we have cobwebs of doubt in mind on anything in life, remember God’s Word (Psalm 119:105 – “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”).

Just when do we determine the truth, folks? Well, there is nothing new under the sun, as what has been will always be. When Jesus was confronted by religious authorities (Matthew 15:1-11), “Then some Pharisees and teachers of the law came to Jesus from Jerusalem and asked, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!” Jesus replied, “And why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’ and ‘Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.’But you say that if a man says to his father and mother, ‘Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is a gift devoted to God,’ he is not to ‘honor his father’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men’.” Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him ‘unclean,’ but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him ‘unclean’.” The principle which we can draw from this biblical passage is that there may be nothing intrinsically wrong with a tradition, but it is wrong to attribute it to God and enforce it as law … and when it comes to conflict of terms between what God wills and what man wants, God being sovereign must win not because He is selfish but He knows what is best for us. As I always highlight, our loving God has always the best interest for us.

Do we Christians do many traditional things by way of obligation? Are we looking at true spirituality by doing our church responsibilities while we neglect our obligations to our parents, who are representatives of God? Are we at times legalistic in dealing with people to the point of unhealthy judging them and not by way of love. True Love is not only an emotion but an action that must be shared with those who are hurting. We may involve ourselves with lots of church programs and activities as a matter of following the truth, but the truth draws nigh to error and becomes a fiction when we do not do things out of love. We are then no different from the early hypocritical religious leaders who claimed to know the truth and yet were utterly rebuked by Jesus because they did not practice the true essence of Christianity. If this is so, what we need is to ‘repent’ of our ways and go back to our ‘first love’ (the Lord!). We may be busy in the Kingdom but have no time with the King. Let us not be fooled by this materialistic world that sometimes defray us far from the truth that our Lord desires obedience by simply doing what He requires — to love God above all and love others as we love ourselves.

Jesus Word of Life International, a non-denominational church, celebrates thanksgiving worship and fellowship every Saturday at North East Bible Church, 175 Whitefield Drive NE from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. If you have burdens and you need prayers, do not hesitate to contact Pastor Nilo at (403) 973-0623. “God, mission, our mission: to preach the gospel, feed the hungry, and share the love of Christ.”

When is truth a fiction?

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