That Warm Feeling

John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people.
Luke 3:18 NLT

You and I have talked about Truth so many times. What it is and what it is not. We have talked about having Truth as our standard - that the Word of God is Truth that will stand and be the measure by which we live. It's not a maybe. It's not a perhaps. It's not conjecture - pure or otherwise. It's Truth... absolute Truth.

John the Baptist spoke Truth...not a real popular guy. But in the telling of it, I made a connection that I'd never seen before in the Word and I'd like to share it with you. First, let me back up a little and give you the general gist of the chapter. John is in the wilderness. He's preaching true repentance. Repentance is NOT about asking for forgiveness. Repentance IS us choosing to do a 180-degree turn - away from those things that are sin and not aligned with the covenant God set before us - and then NEVER going back.

In chapter 3 of Luke, those who are in sin ask John, "What should we do?" and John tells them like it is. He does not mince words. He does not say, "Oh, poor baby, I know you're trying." He tells them flat out - Stop! Stop doing this! Start doing that! He speaks absolute Truth.

Just as the Word of God instructs, it is Truth that sets us free (from sin and its wages). Luke said of John in verses 4-6, Isaiah had spoken of John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him! The valleys will be filled, and the mountains and hills made level. The curves will be straightened, and the rough places made smooth. And then all people will see the salvation sent from God." (That's from Isaiah, chapter 40).

It is Truth that digs out the lies underneath the anger. It's Truth that hacks away at the walls we build around us. It's Truth that fills the empty places and potholes in our lives. And I believe it's Truth that makes the road clear - that prepares the way of the Lord and that enables us to see salvation.

If I remove the dunghill between me and thee, I can see you. I can see much farther on a straight road than I can a crooked one. When we get all the junk (sin) out of the way, we are enabled to see much clearer, much further. In Isaiah 45:2, God said to Cyrus, "I will go before you and make the crooked places straight..." Psalm 25:10a tells us, All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, but it doesn't end with that. There's a condition to it - part B - To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. Did you get that? Were you paying attention? All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.

John spoke Truth and did not worry about giving people warm fuzzies. The Word tells us there is an eternal lake of fire for those who don't embrace His Truth and salvation. If you're more interested in warm fuzzies than Truth, you would do well to check to see where the heat is coming from that supplies the warmth for those fuzzies.

Prayer:

Father,
           Psalm 25:11, For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. Apply Your absolute Truth to our lives. Speak Your Truth in love so that we might see You and embrace the salvation offered. Reveal Yourself and Your absolute Truth to us, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen