Sunday Thoughts: the Voice of Truth

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6, NKJV)

Jesus is the Truth incarnate; you can trust Him and know that He will never lie to you.

However, so many things in our lives lie to us, and we listen to them closely. Advertisements say we need products x, y, or z to make us “happy.” Movies and TV tell us that to be physically imperfect is somehow shameful. Newspapers tell us that the world is a terrible, horrible place. Doctors tell us that it’s OK to kill a pre-born baby because it might have some disease or deformity. Our family and friends tell us that we’re worthless or truly extraordinary, too fat or too thin, too good or too bad, too smart or too dumb… On and on and on.

So who do we believe?

I was listening to KLOVE radio the other day, and a song from Casting Crowns came on – “Voice of Truth”

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I’m in
on to the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He’s holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I’ve tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. “Boy, you’ll never win!”
“You’ll never win!”

Isn’t that the way it always is? You have a dream, a goal, that seems impossible. You long to make the leap, to try to achieve your desire, but you look at all the seemingly insurmountable barriers and you think, “I cannot possibly do this!” The world beats you down, and your past failures and embarrassments rise up and tell you that you can’t do it. You know how discouraging that is, don’t you?

Jesus knows this, too – He knows it intimately. His own earthly family thought, briefly, that He was mad. He was surrounded by disciples who couldn’t see that His sacrifice was necessary because they were expecting a King. And yet, He listened to His Father – and His Father spoke the truth:

Chorus:
But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, “Do not be afraid!”
And the Voice of Truth says, “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth

Do you listen to the Voice of Truth? It’s not always easy. Far too often, the voices of the world drown it out with songs and shouts and yells and groans. The world uses seductive voices, attractive traps which lead us astray and distract us from the still, small voice – the Voice that tells us the Truth.

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes
to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they’d have had the strength to stand

But the giant’s calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I’ve tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. “Boy you’ll never win!”
“You’ll never win!”

What type of giant are you facing in your life? Sickness? Financial problems? A marriage that’s breaking up? Perhaps your child is in complete rebellion or you are struggling with some sin that you just can’t seem to overcome.

Over and over it happens: someone you love gets cancer, or you don’t have quite enough paycheck to cover the bills, or there’s an accident and someone dies. The giants of sorrow and pain and uncertainty crowd around you brandishing their spears of discouragement and disillusionment, and you feel like you’re going down for the count.

What are they saying to you? You can’t do this, it’s impossible to endure, you just can’t keep going on, just run away, give up, no one cares anyway, why should you bother, it’s all overwhelming, it’s too much, so tired, so very very tired…

Who do you need to listen to?

Chorus:
But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, “Do not be afraid!”
And the Voice of Truth says, “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don’t seem so high
On top of them lookin’ down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

Did you know that God sings over His children?

The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17, NKJV)

He loves His children, and He cherishes them with a great and tremendous love which surpasses all our understanding. Jesus walks with us every step of the way, and His Spirit calls to us in a quiet, gentle Voice, “Here is the way, walk in it. I am here; I will never leave you or forsake you, I am with you until the end of days. I am your Comforter, your Friend; take My yoke upon you, and I will give you peace.”

This God, this one true and living God, the Creator of the Universe and all that exists holds out His hand and invites you, “Come!”

Chorus:
But the Voice of Truth tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says, “Do not be afraid!”
And the Voice of Truth says, “This is for My glory”
Out of all the voices calling out to me (calling out to me)
I will choose to listen and believe-

I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth
I will listen and believe
I will listen and believe the Voice of truth
I will listen and believe
Cause Jesus you are the voice of truth
And I will listen to you, you are-

The Voice of Truth says, “You are precious to Me. I love you, and I died for you. I rose again from the grave and now stand before My Father, pleading your case that you may receive grace. I have known you and chosen you from before the foundation of the world, and I call you to come to Me and take your rest.

“You are not ugly: I created you, and nothing I create is ugly. (Psalm 139)

“You are not worthless: I died for you while you were yet in your sin. (Romans 5:6-11)

“You are not alone: I am with you, carrying you.

“You are not unheard: I hear your cries of pain, and I keep each tear you shed. I will come and wipe every tear from out of your eye, and cause you to rejoice.

“You are not poor: you are My child, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I own the universe and all created things, and I claim you as Mine. You are joint heirs with My beloved Son, and will inherit the Kingdom.

“You are not hopeless: I have paid the debt that you could not, and I offer you My salvation and My eternal love.

“You are not powerless: My Spirit lives in My children, and My power is made perfect in their weakness. By My power, I set their feet on the Rock, and they will not falter.

“You are not unloved: I have loved you with an everlasting love, and no one can take you out of My hand.

“Listen to the Voice of Truth: it is My Voice, and I tell no lies.”

(Crossposted from CatHouse Chat)