Truth/Lie

Written by cycleguy on June 11th, 2015

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You don’t see them as much anymore as you used to (thank goodness). What? This bumper sticker:

HONK IF YOU LOVE JESUS!

It always amused me when I saw it on someone flying by me as if I was standing still. By the time I reached my horn they were so far gone I might as well have been honking at some other car (and making them mad).

Then they came out with another one that may have been just as obnoxious and even more crass:

TITHE IF YOU LOVE JESUS. ANYONE CAN HONK.

Do you hear the upchuck/gag reflex hitting about now? That’s me in response to that statement.

I’d like to add a twist to that sticker. I think it is more relevant:

TELL THE TRUTH IF YOU LOVE JESUS. ANYONE CAN LIE.

I know. Not a very good one but it tells the point of this Sunday’s message. There is hardly anything more important than telling the truth. We can shade it. We can cover it up. We can lie about it. But it will all come back to us eventually. I would personally have someone, no matter how much it hurt, tell me the truth than shade it, cover it up, lie about it or talk about me behind my back.

Paul’s defense against the abusers of grace is not a defense; it is an offense. He calls an Ace and Ace and a Spade a Spade. One of the ways he does that is to show the glaring difference between Sarah and Hagar; the child born by supernatural means (Isaac), and the child born by natural means (Ishmael). He points out the children were at odds. They still are. Sarah vs. Hagar. Isaac vs. Ishmael. Jew vs. Arab.

My Scripture Sunday is here. I’d appreciate your prayers and thank you ahead of time.

 

21 Comments so far ↓

  1. Daniel says:

    Something about the “Tithe if you love Jesus, anyone can honk” made me giggle. I will be praying for you in my devotionals tomorrow morning.

  2. One of the things I love about the OT is that it takes these lying, pathetic guys (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) and showers them with God’s grace. We all have that in us and yet He still treats us the same as them. Which should motivate us to shape up a bit.

  3. Jeff says:

    Truth is one of the most misused words by religious purveyors (Jesus followers and other types). They only need to believe something is true. There doesn’t need to be any facts or evidence for them to declare Truth.
    I think that this approach at truth telling, while somewhat dishonest, probably has a positive effect on attracting people into the club.

  4. Rodney Olsen says:

    I’m happy to see another sticker disappear.

    NOT PERFECT, JUST FORGIVEN

    While that might be true, (I know only too well that I’m not perfect) it always seemed to be used as an excuse. I used to call them ‘excuse stickers’. It was like people were saying, “Don’t expect me to live up to what I claim to believe”.

  5. Yep, those bumper stickers were pretty annoying. I do have a sticker in my rear window which says “Forgiven by Jesus.” I like that one because it is absolutely true. I love the reminder!
    Praying for you, Bill. Blessings!

  6. floyd says:

    Actions do speak louder than words, huh? Especially ones on bumper stickers!

    Praying for you, Bill. Truth sets us free.

  7. Gosh … I guess we’ve gotta be prepared to live out the words on those bumper stickers if we’re gonna plaster them all over the place, huh?

    Sabbath blessings, Bill.

  8. Mike says:

    Bill, I love that you preach from the Bible. It seems most churches anymore want to preach about relationships, feeling good and prosperity. Very few want to tell people what they’re doing wrong. Maybe it’s not good for the offering plate. I’m all for a feel good message sometimes, but God is more concerned about our future than our feelings. Keep up the good preaching.

    • cycleguy says:

      Thanks Mike. As long as God gives me breath I hope to always preach HIS Word and not mine or some “feel good” claptrap. Thanks for the encouragement.

  9. Betty Draper says:

    Everyone has a definition of “truth” according to their standards. If I make up my own truth it would be easier to follow then the truths God has set up for His children to follow. Setting up our own truth is so prideful because we all think our truth trumps others truth. I know, I followed my truth for years, truth according to Betty which meant I had to be my own judge of my truth. How prideful of myself adn my truth I have been. And we can change our own truth to fit how ever we want it to fit, again totally about self. God never changes His, what He said 6 thousand years ago, He is still saying today to everyone , not just a few,and His truth still works, it still saves the soul. This will be a great message brother…for everyone loves truth IF ITS DOES NOT OVER RIDE THEIR TRUTH. This message will shake a few false truth out. Praying for you.

    • cycleguy says:

      You are right Betty. When we make our own truth we can change it on a whim whenever we want to and whenever it suits our own purpose. I’m praying for His Word to have an impact. Thanks.

  10. Praying God uses you to reach all who need to hear the message God has put in your heart, Bill. Hope you have a great weekend.

  11. Deb Wolf says:

    We used to have a Honk if you love Jesus bumper sticker years ago. We got rid of it because we usually thought people were upset when they honked. It always took a few minutes to realize they were reacting to the sticker and you’re right . . . by that time they were gone. How we speak and act should show our love for Jesus. Simple “yes” or “no.” Wow, we make everything too complicated don’t we?