Hidden Truth

In the fifty-first chapter of the book of Psalms, we discover a poem expressing a profound statement of timeless wisdom. The psalmist declared, “Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,…”  Truth, by definition, is anything that is in accordance with fact or reality. To be truthful is to, at least in part, adhere to basic laws of commonsense and even fundamental morality. However, this elementary concept appears to increasingly challenge our contemporary society. Our vocabulary now possesses such juvenile terms as, “my truth” and “that’s your opinion” in an effort to dismiss and discard basic (uncomfortable), easily proven facts. As a result, pseudo-social concepts such as gender fluidity, evolution of species, cheap absolution, and man-made climate change to name just a few, fester in our lemming population. This self-made truth as it were, is just that, selfishness gone rampant. Man actually believes he is the center of the universe so everything good, delightful, and holy fades into mist.

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:5-7 (ESV)

We now live in an age where it is fashionable to wear the mantle of victim. In fact, if you don’t carry some sort of survivor status label, you’re considered strange and abhorred by the so-called woke culture of our day. The voices of those truly harmed and discarded in our society are consequently drowned out by the proliferation of lying attention seekers. Everyone suddenly seems to be a racial advocate or trauma expert with an encyclopedic knowledge of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. These compulsive liars vehemently insist on “their truth” at all costs. However, I think we’re severely missing the point here. Christ came to heal the sick and brokenhearted. (Psalm 147:3) He did not enter this world to pander to our base desire to garner sympathy and validation. Our Savior lovingly searches the hearts of those oppressed by Satan’s dominion and, with tender truth, casts out the tormentor of our mind, body, and spirit. (John 16:13)

As disciples of Jesus, we have an unyielding obligation to the truth. Not our truth, but the truth of Christ. An honest allegiance to being truthful with ourselves and others should terrify us. It is truth that declares us fit for eternal damnation. The truth banishes us to our just desserts as fallen creatures in need of a divine savior. Yet, it is this same truth that gloriously sets us free. Reality, with all its horror and beauty, allows us to approach the very throne of heaven if we embrace the truth and admit who we really are. (Hebrews 4:16) However, show me a man who constantly feels the need to justify himself by blaming others for his sinful failures and I’ll show you a calculating liar. Any individual with a perpetual addiction to rewriting history obviously has something quite sinister to hide. These types of people demand their family and friends become soundboards for their exaggerated narrative. It’s not enough to declare their “own truth” but they insist everyone around them parrot their falsehoods and take the blame for their sin. They play the ultimate victim while making their enablers twice as fit for hell. (Matthew 23:15) This is the scourge of our day and one that only truth Himself can heal. If we claim to be disciples of Christ, then His word should shed cleansing light into our darkest delusions. The devastating truth hidden in the words of Christ Jesus will set us free from the shackles of our grandiose deceit.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32 (ESV)

Each of us must choose to break from the lies that plague our hearts. We absolutely must stare intently into the mirror of our person and see plainly who we really are. It’s uncomfortable to be sure and so often we foolishly forget what we look like the moment we glance away. (James 1:23-24) Yet, if we’re truly honest with ourselves, our fellow pilgrims, and with God, there may yet be hope. It’s not enough to simply be honest regarding our outward persona. Many a convicted criminal admits his fallen condition all be it absent any genuine remorse. The human heart remains by far the most deceitful among all things. (Jeremiah 17:9) To genuinely overcome our inherited lying handicap, we must give the Holy Spirit complete permission to search and know our concealed “inward being.”

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Psalm 139:23-24 (ESV)

If we indeed desire truth deep in our hearts and minds, then let us boldly ask for it. Learn to pray the prayer of Psalms: “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!” This is a brave prayer and one not easily uttered. We are asking God to reveal our hidden sins, and secret lusts, and remove the intricate mask we parade so others can’t see who we really are. By allowing Almighty God to remove our self-righteous pretensions, He promises to lead us into everlasting truth. No longer will we content ourselves with the lie of “my truth” but rather bask in the shine of eternal reality. Our hearts will no longer chase the sordid and profane deceit of self-justification but the freedom and peace of honest worship. This is the inheritance of God’s people and it is available to all who desire the truth concealed in the embrace of the Almighty.