The Truth Is Better

The Truth is Better

In the ongoing saga that is the acquisition and delivery of our household goods, I have come to the earth-shattering realization that I don’t enjoy someone lying to me. Throughout this process, the moving company has told us just another 5-7 days, and we continue to wait. Still, deep down, we have accepted our fate. Here is the typical conversation:

Me: Good morning. How are you doing this morning?

Customer Service: I’m great, thank you for asking. What can I do for you?

Me: I am calling to check on the status of my household goods shipment.

Customer Service: Okay, let me look at your file… Okay, I see what is happening. Let me call dispatch and find out if the company has loaded your items.

*placed on hold*

Customer Service: Dispatch did not answer, but I will call you back as soon as they let us know what is happening.

 

Here is the issue, they never call back. The first time the brokers said it, it sounded genuine. However, after a month and a half, it sounds fake and dismissive. We’ve tried other tactics, as well, such as mentioning that they never call back, asking if I can talk to dispatch or a manager/owner. However, the more aggressive I become, the harsher their replies. If I am kind and patient, they dismiss my concern, and I realize they are pacifying me to get me off the phone. I don’t know about you, but I would much rather have the truth; even if it were negative, it would be better for me in the long run to have the truth.

In his conversation with some Pharisees and other Jews, Jesus is having this conversation about truth. In John chapter eight, he tries to relate the truth about who he is; he comments that he bears witness to himself. The legal-minded Pharisees know that a person cannot be their own witness; you must have someone else testify on your behalf. In this hardheaded crowd, Jesus discusses truth, freedom, and testimony as he tries to show them who he is. Jesus entirely agrees and says that his Father also testifies about who he is, “In your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true. I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me” (John 8:17-18 ESV). The group questions who Jesus’ father is, and they do not like his answer, and Jesus asserts that this is because they don’t want the truth. After all, their father is the adversary and the father of lies. “Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:42-44 ESV).  

What follows is my take-home application. Sometimes lies are easier to hear because they placate or soothe us. When someone tells me a lie, it is probably easier for me to accept. Here are the Jews, they say they have never been slaves, but they have; most of their existence has been slavery and foreign occupation and exile. Jesus is trying to tell them that they are slaves to their traditions, heritage, and sin; however, this is hard to hear. Jesus wants them to know that by following him, he can remove all of these lies. If Jesus wanted to gain a following, he would have lied and appeased the crowd. On the other hand, Jesus only wants to distribute the truth, and the truth is what we need.

Even if the truth is hard to hear, make sure your heart can accept it and go seek it out.


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