Witness to the Truth

Have you ever heard someone say, 'Just tell the truth and you won't be in any trouble?' That if you 'lie' it will go worse for you. Parents say that a lot don't they? Just don't lie to me. I want the truth. The truth.

Sometimes the truth can get you in trouble and most assuredly it will if you're a Christian. I'm not saying it *always* will, but the truth isn't something people want to hear all the time, not when it comes to rocking their worlds and upsetting the old apple cart, they're just as happy to be left alone. The truth calls for reproving for sins, Jesus is the truth, and He came and reproved mankind of their sins. Being reproved isn't something most people take kindly to and there in trouble ensues.

The Apostle Paul knew this, yet he was compelled to tell the truth about Jesus wherever he went, often getting him into big trouble.

Here he is Caesarea, locked up and accused of dissension and the Romans realize the Jews are after him because of their laws and yet Paul being a Roman wasn't just turned over to the Jews to deal with but was to be taken to Rome. It's a very detailed story read the entire thing if you can. Here's but a small part and it pertains to the 'truth'.

Paul explaining himself before King Agrippa- why he was in custody, why he was appealing to Caesar.

Acts
{26:19} Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision
{26:20} But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should
repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
{26:21} For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill [me. ]
{26:22} Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
{26:23} That Christ should suffer, [and] that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.
{26:24} And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.
{26:25} But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness.

**
Not mad, but speaking words of truth and soberness.
Truth!

Paul is speaking words of truth and here King Agrippa is thinking him insane. Paul is a witness for the truth and as such his telling the truth is not boding well for him in a worldly way, is it. For the truth's sake it is gaining him notoriety, the truth is being published more and more to people by his captivity, by his troubles. He goes on to tell King Agrippa more...

Acts
{26:26} For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
{26:27} King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.
{26:28} Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

**
Paul's word of truth were falling on ears that understood, not necessarily accepted what was being said but just to hear the king say- 'Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.' is amazing! Paul is speaking truth, and Agrippa not blinded by hatred as most of the Jews were, did know that the crucifixion of Jesus took place. He also was a learned man that had studied the prophets for Paul to say that he believes them.

Acts
{26:29} And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.
{26:30} And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them:
{26:31} And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds.
{26:32} Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.

**
They know that all that Paul has done was speak facts, that he'd done nothing to warrant being locked up or put to death. They would have let him go if he hadn't appealed to Caesar.

God had His own plan though, and that plan was for Paul to go to Rome, to go before Caesar. The truth was going far and wide.

No, the truth wasn't setting Paul free here on earth, but his spiritual life was free in Christ. We too are bound to this earth for as long as Jesus deems necessary to fulfill the grand plan of salvation to it completion. We aren't to be taken out of the world, but to be kept in the world even though we are children of God through the grace of His only Son's sacrifice. Witnesses one and all, witnesses to the truth.

It's not popular. It wasn't popular back at its conception and it won't be popular at it's completion.

The truth calls for a life in Jesus, not just a few hours in a church pew or a couple hours doing good deeds, or a half hour a day prayer, not even prayers ten times a day. A life spent in Jesus.

Truth that isn't hidden upon convenience.

Truth that will transform you with the renewing of your mind.

Romans
{12:1} I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.
{12:2} And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

When it comes to Jesus, so many people would much rather believe a lie than to embrace Him fully.

Go on and think, what does she know, she doesn't know anything, and you know... it's possible that I could have it all wrong. Jesus knows that I'm not perfect, that my life has so much in it that needs to be non-conformed to the world, by His grace and mercy, by His love and forgiveness, may the Father's will be done in me as it is in Him as He wills for all mankind. I'm not waving some 'I'm perfect' banner, far, far from it! The banner I want to wave is one that proclaims Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life, the way to the Father is through the Son. By the grace of Jesus I am forgiven, by His truth I am sanctified in Him.

May God bless us all as we stand witness to the truth, even when a lie would untie the bindings - emotional and/or physical - that we are caught up in on earth here and now.

Amen

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”- Romans 12:1