There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. ~ John 1:6-7
There was electricity in the court room. The eyes of everyone were fastened on the defense attorney. The people who filled the court room knew his reputation. Not only did he have a flair for the dramatic, he could also be persuasive. Slowly he eased himself from his chair. Deliberately he walked past the prosecutor’s table. Silently he positioned himself in front of the jury. His every action made people ache with anticipation to hear his closing oration. He did not disappoint. His arm shot heavenward. His features became terse. Then with a thunderous roar he proclaimed, “Let the truth be heard!”
There are many times when I would appreciate an advocate who would demand the truth be heard. Day after day I am bombarded by exaggerations and all sorts of claims that only lead to confusion. Where can I find clarity? Where can I find some semblance of certainty? Where can I hear the truth?
While the world may offer little hope of providing the truth, there is one source I cannot afford to overlook. This is the Lord. Not only did he cause the truth to be recorded in the Bible, he also proclaimed it through servants like John the Baptist. When the time was right, the Lord sent John to testify to the truth that “the light was coming into the world.” His message was simple, and it pointed directly to Jesus as that light.
The Lord’s message through John has not changed, and it continues to resound through every generation: Let the truth be heard! Jesus, the Light of the world, has come into the world! I, along with every sinner, desperately need to know that Jesus has brought light to my sin-darkened life. I also need to know that he has shattered the darkness of death with his victory over the grave. Equally important, I need to trust that God’s Word is the never-failing light and guide for my life.
Certainly the world offers many substitutions which only become confusing. The devil joins in to promote this confusion with his endless stream of deceptions. By myself I can not sift through the cacophony of claims and get to the truth. This is why I have to depend on the words of John along with every word the Lord caused to be recorded in the Bible. Through these precious words the Lord offers me a thunderous proclamation: Here is the truth that saves, let it be heard and believed!
Prayer: O gracious Lord, I thank you for the truth you have caused to be proclaimed for my blessing. Open my ears to hear it. Prepare my heart to receive it. Send me your Holy Spirit so I can believe it. Amen.
Living Hope Church 