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Sep 07, 2023 06:00am

Raise Your Right Hand

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“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those that tell the truth.”
Proverbs 12:22 (NLT)

Truth matters. Ask anyone waiting for the jury to return, the totals of the ballots to be counted, or the lie-detector results to be shared. Lying never ends well, ask Pinocchio…or more seriously, the shackled, convicted prisoner as he is escorted out following the verdict.

I’ve been blessed not to have spent much time in a courtroom, but the few times a fifth grade trip field trip landed my curious students on the front row of a civics lesson, humor left the building when the colorful jumpsuits entered. Sadly, we live (and have grown to accept as normal) the tendency to minimize our part in living and speaking partial truth (that means lying if you are paying attention) if we want to avoid negative consequences. For the most part, the weight that a strong handshake and promise carry these days is less than our morning bagel, or our favorite paperweight. Sadly, for the Christian, many of our oaths resemble nothing more than a casual nod to “the whole truth and nothing but the truth” until it implies consequences.

I wonder what God thinks of our appeals for mercy when we are repeat offenders of truth? I wonder how frequently He would like to object to our courtroom drama lifestyle (with evidence mounting) along with our tendency to twist truth, spin conversations, or place blame when our false testimony occurs?

Isn’t it just like our loving Heavenly Father to not rescue Himself, but to enter evidence under cross examination of our sentence being commuted through the sinless blood of Jesus taking our punishment upon Himself? Truly our spiritual exoneration only comes from our guilt/sin being covered with his Son’s innocence “doing the time” for us.

I’ve watched some talented lawyers (mainly the TV kind) that subpoena the right witnesses, sway the undecided jurors, and appropriately object in their client’s defense. But God. When we truly investigate his copious notes (in His Word), seek His counsel during recess (quiet time), and understand Jesus’s time served on our behalves…we can truly testify of His redemptive case load with no hung juries. Yes, truth matters to God as His image-bearers. Approach His bench with reverence and choose to be guilty of integrity based on truthfulness. That evidence promises a redeemed verdict with no statute of limitations.