Hi, SamaraThere’s a more pleasant breeze here today. Very likely the humidity is not as high as it has been because it doesn’t feel as drippy and muggy.
Perhaps I’ll stick on a photo of a lady whom I only knew as a shy little girl of about 10 back in 2001—Delma. She and her family came by yesterday for a brief visit. They gave us a few garden food items and invited us to join them in an outing next Saturday. I took this picture at the front of this big house—the biggest we have ever occupied.
Hope things are going well for you. I know you had a round of sickness that your folks told us about. Not fun.
We’ll be in touch again soon.
Love, Tua.
PS: Sure would like to hear from you. Hint, hint.
Notice that this statement is repeated again in verse 9 with only minor difference: “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish.”
Firstly, let me underscore and affirm something that many in our confused world try to deny: WE ARE ALL SUBJECT TO ABSOLUTE TRUTH. My belief system says there is no TRUTH more absolute than God. People can criticize and philosophize and theorize all they want, arguing that there is no such thing as ABSOLUTE TRUTH, but all their efforts have no more effect on the fact and reality of TRUTH than one could topple a skyscraper with a karate kick.
Secondly, let me point out what I believe to be the most critical form of witnessing that takes place among humans. I’m thinking of SELF-TALK. By that I mean that what other people say to you is not as important or influential as what you say to you. So if you tell yourself stuff that is TRUE—truths that are compatible with God and His Living and Enduring Word—that’s good. But if, for whatever reason, you tell lies to yourself—things that are in conflict with God and His Word—do you think there will be no ultimate consequences?
As stated in a message we heard this morning, absolutely everyone with a functional mind is on a collision course with God’s ABSOLUTE TRUTH. Here’s one example of that TRUTH: “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). A wimpy little human colliding with God’s TRUTH does not allow for a pretty picture—except for the insulation and protection of another TRUTH of God—that is, His extravagant love and grace offered through Christ.
Doesn’t it make sense, Samara—that if Jesus is ABSOLUTE TRUTH, how can I possibly “go free” or escape perishing if I ignore or reject that TRUTH? It seems clear to me—the reason people perish is because they tell themselves lies concerning the TRUTH. If they would only tell themselves the truth about the TRUTH, they would win ETERNAL LIFE. What a deal!