(Rom 1:25) who exchanged the truth of God for the lie . . .
Why do people lie? To cover up the truth. The truth is too painful to face so to avoid the consequences people lie. And the greatest truth ever told is the fact of the Resurrection. Jesus rose again from the dead and lives today. But that’s too much for some people to believe. They know it’s true but if they faced the truth then they would be accountable for the truth. They would have to admit they are wrong. Then after their admission there would have to be a change of lifestyle. That’s too much of an “ouch” for some so they keep suppressing the truth. And that takes a lot of work to deny what you know is true and what is speaking to your conscience. The sad outcome of all this is that to live with themselves they have to exchange the truth of God for a lie. This is self-deception but it’s the only alternative to facing the reality of things.
When Jesus rose, the religious leaders had egg on their face. They tried so much to mute the truth, but the empty tomb was God’s overture to His symphony of love. Jesus said He was the truth and now the truth is out . . . out of the tomb! It was difficult for the perpetuators of the crucifixion to face the truth, so they had to mastermind a cover-up. How would they do it? They met together and hatched a plan. They would bribe the soldiers and tell them to say Jesus’ disciples stole away His body (Mat 28:11-15). And you know what? Many of the Jews accepted this unsubstantiated explanation and exchanged the truth for the lie.
Well, today is no different. There is a lie going around that humanizes Jesus and says that He didn’t rise from the dead. They say Jesus did live but he married Mary Magdalene and fathered a priestly line that has been covered up to this day. Others have come along and said they have discovered a family tomb with the bones of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and their offspring. Lies! But people believe it because the truth is too much to face. It’s like what Jesus said: (John 8:44) "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
Are you facing the truth today? Truth is not meant to scare you but to dare you to boldly face the reality of things and to set you free. (John 8:32) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Don’t live a lie. Jesus was buried so you wouldn’t have to be buried in the falsehood and tragedy of deception. Jesus rose from the dead that you might rise from your spiritual death into everlasting life. Come on. Admit you’ve been believing and living a lie and start walking in the truth. Then you’ll really start living! (John 14:19) . . . Because I live, you will live also.
Louie
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