The Sunday Sermonette – Is Your Door Closed or Opened?

TBR? Ever heard of it? Truth-by-Repetition. Since the early 1970s, scientific studies have shown that repeatedly stating something increases its truth value. The more a particular theory, or group of ideas, or popular beliefs is discussed, the more likely society, as a whole, will accept that they are true. Perhaps activists, politicians, and advertisers have known all along that TBR works on nearly any kind of claim, even ones that “dance around the truth.”

In a world swirling with lies and half-truths, many Christians find themselves caught between the tug of truth and the lure of deception. As we journey along life’s rocky road, it becomes vital to cling to truth and turn away from lies, no matter how convincing they may seem. The Good Book tells us that truth brings freedom, while lies only tether us to confusion and captivity.

Embracing truth is the cornerstone of spiritual growth. What is the truth, we might ask? The Good Book points us to the fact that truth is not a concept but a person, Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Understanding that truth is rooted in Jesus, we are challenged to align our thoughts and actions with His teachings. Doing so helps keep us grounded in an ever-changing world.

The prophet Ezekiel sounded a serious alarm to the Israelites, who were drawn to the lies of false prophets who spun their own tales. God told Ezekiel to warn them: “Destruction is certain for the false prophets who are following their own imaginations and have seen nothing at all!” This warning targeted those who twisted the truth into lies in order to gain favor, saying whatever pleased the crowd. Does that ring a bell? Please watch out for those who stretch the truth in their pursuit of power and applause.

Just like the Israelites, we need to spot the difference between truth and lies and remember the heavy price of dishonesty. Lies might offer us comfort for a moment, but they always lead to ruin in the end. The Good Book warns us that dishonesty burdens not only the liar, but everyone touched by the lie. Let me leave you with a short poem I wrote about truth and lies:

When you close the door on truth, you leave the light behind,

A shadow falls across your path, and confusion ignites your mind.

For every truth that’s locked away, a lying whisper will arise,

Because when you close the door on truth, you open one for lies.

The honest words you laughed at will echo in the dark,

While the entangling lies you now embrace will leave a lasting mark.

When you decide to shut truth’s shining door, closing it ever so tight,

Dishonest shadows will encase your heart, dimming truth’s holy light.

If the door to lies swings open, and beckons seductively wide,

Tempting your heart to quickly step inside,

Replace that temptation with God’s truth from above,

And rush away, to be filled with Jesus’s precious love.

So pause before you shut truth’s door, and its peace grows cold and dies,

For when you close the door on truth, you open one for lies.

Ponder this and go forth.