Influencers Weekly Devotional

The Truth (Part Two of a Christmas Story)

by

Rocky Fleming

“I am the truth…” Jesus Christ

With every trip into new territory, it would be essential to have a map or directions for getting you to your destination. If not, you could get lost quickly. However, there have been many adventurers in the past, such as Lewis and Clark, who have not had the luxury of a map. Instead, these men had to journey for years into unknown places like the Northwest Territory, and pilot their way through it using only established principles of navigation and survival. These principles became their guide. Needless to say, there have been reckless adventurers who didn’t use these principles, and many didn’t make it back. It is the same way with life. We need principles of truth that will direct us, for likewise, we do not have a map telling us what lies ahead in our life. Even though we try to “map” out our life, we are delusional if we think we can input every future contingency and the effect it will have on our life. No, our journey through life will require us to rely on principles of truth that show us how to react to the fluid conditions in life, and they must become a map for us. Jesus said that He is The Way, which is the only path we travel to make it home to Heaven. He is the only way to the Father, and we must choose to take the first step on this path by believing and receiving Christ as our Lord and Savior. Following this decision is the life we live as a true believer. Jesus, and his word becomes the Principles of Truth that will guide our steps in life, if we will seek His leadership. His word, and His presence in our life becomes our guide or map for walking on the narrow, less traveled path that we have chosen. Last week I began a story that gives the reader an allegory of truth regarding what Christ said about Himself. So let’s continue the story: - Part Two - “You begin your way out of the deep forest you are in by following the advice of an old man who shared the trail you were on. He looked like what you suspected a prophet of the Lord would look like … sincere … authoritative … weird. But, he also reeked of truth and moral authority. His warning scared you enough to cause you to take the least traveled, steep path out of the woods. The other paths are wide, well traveled and inviting. But he said that only one path would take you home, and the others would lead to your destruction. He called the narrow path, “The Way.” As soon as you got on the path, you picked up a book of instructions for walking the narrow path called, “The Truth.” The prophet said it would be your guide and it was imperative for you to spend time in it along the way to gain the wisdom you would need for navigating the unknown territory you would be traveling through. He also said The Way would teach you more things than you could imagine, but there would be times so challenging that you would want to quit. He urged you to not quit, but seek wisdom and comfort from The Truth. He also mentioned that there would be other people on the path, and some of them would be deeply discouraged, and that you should give them a helping hand, for in helping them you will be helping yourself. You’ve done what the old man said to do, and The Truth is proving to be vitally important to you, not only as a guide for your steps, but also to comfort you in your lonely times on the path, and to help others who need encouragement. You are astounded how the principle of helping others works. You read one of the principles in The Truth and connectthe promise of the old prophet to the promise in the book. It read: ‘Knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.’ Ephesians 6:8 You begin to see there is wisdom for life in The Truth, and it becomes a priority to seek it. You also find wisdom for seeing the well-disguised diversions the Evil Man has placed along the road. Whenever you feel frightened or discouraged, there are promises in The Truth that lift you up. All you have to do is spend a little time looking for a promise that deals with your particular situation, and you always find something. It is amazing how insightful The Truth is. When you need wisdom, you look for it as hidden treasure. In fact, it was one of the first insights you found in The Truth when you read: ‘My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.’ Proverbs 2:1-5. Before now, you have never considered that you could actually seek wisdom from God when walking in a scary place in life like you are in now, or even with living life. To imagine your Creator could be such a resource to you becomes an antidote for your fear and a boost to your sense of security. You follow the instructions and go on a treasure hunt in The Truth to find wisdom for every decision you make, or every obstacle in the road. Oh, like most men, you try to walk The Way without reading your guide. But, it doesn’t take long for you to find yourself on a path that leads you astray. The Evil Man is so good with his deceitful ways, and on your own you could never see the disguised pitfalls until you fall into them. It happened often until you figured out that there is too much pain to claw your way out of his traps. You decide after one such painful trap, you would do some homework in The Truth, and it gives you a heads up to most of those traps. When you start to allow the hidden treasure in The Truth to guide you, you are able to see the pitfalls and avoid most of them. For a long, long time you have been traveling The Way. In fact, it has become a way of life for you. Even though you are growing in confidence in your walk, and becoming content with your journey, there is always a gnawing homesickness that stays with you. There is a longing deep within you that tells you that although you have become well equipped for the journey you are on because of The Truth, there is a sense that this path is temporary, and home is still ahead for you. You are homesick for another place, one you have never been to before. You have been on The Way with your journey so long, you have almost forgotten that it is a way to a destination to somewhere else, and not where home lies. Could it be that this longing reminds you of a need to be in this place, but you can never find it on your own? As you have learned to do, you go to The Truth to find some wisdom and a reason why you have this deep longing within you. You find it. It reads: ‘For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.’ Romans 8:19-23 When you read the words, you realize that The Way and The Truth have been preparing you for going to this place, and that is your home. On your journey, you see that you have been under a careful reconstruction, being remade into a man seasoned by The Way using The Truth, and through the process you have become a different man. It is this new man who is longing and being invited to something eternal, something of greater value, and something not limited by the old life you once had. As you contemplate these thoughts, the narrow path you have been walking on becomes less dangerous and threatening, as it leads you into a gentle pastureland. You sense something is about to change. It is close to dark, so it comforts you to see faint lights in a stable ahead. When you take steps toward the lights, you hear a voice and turn to see the old prophet who guided you to The Way, to escape your lost condition and make it home. He asks you a question, as he steps close to you: ‘Are you ready to see where The Way has led you?’ You are initially surprised that the old man is waiting there for you. But then you remember you have seen a lot of mysterious things on your trip thus far, and you sense he will somehow help you understand their hidden meanings. You have a lot of questions you want to ask the old prophet, and now will be your chance. You answer his question that you are ready to see where The Way has led you, and he begins to explain the mysteries you have seen as you both walk toward the rural stable ahead......” Next week, Part Three of the Christmas story, The Life, will complete this series. Download file