Truth and Lies Cannot Commingle

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Lethal Lies

Jesus declared Himself to be The Truth.  It is not just a state of being; it is a title:

• the way (Greek hE hodos)
• the truth (Greek hE alEtheia)
• the life (Greek hE zOE)

In each of these, the word translated “the” is meant to signify a specific item, rather than a general item (such as, “a [one of many] way[s]”, “a truth”, “a life”. etc.).  This was done by the Apostle John to illustrate a specific truth – that Jesus, being God, embodies these specific characteristics that no other person can claim – they are singularly His.

In contrast to these, Jesus clarified that anyone who does not belong to God the Father belongs to the devil:

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. ⁴³ Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

Historical Revisionism (a.k.a., untruthfulness) distorts reality and not only detracts from the image of God (for we bear the image of God, being created in His image), but is now associated with murder!  Jesus links these two together here and makes an implied statement – Truth leads to life, and Lies lead to death (the murder of [The] Truth)!

Walk in the Way

Jesus, providing direction for any who would be His disciples, provided this very specific direction:

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

As a three point direction, this is most interesting:

• deny yourself (Greek aparnEsasthO heauton, an imperative command – Renounce [Die to] Yourself!) – An act of death to self and being made alive in Christ (“I am The Life”)
• take up your cross (Greek aratO ton stauron autou, an imperative command – Take up the cross of you!) – Bear up under the burdens of sanctification (trials and tribulations – be an image-bearer of The Truth through hardship – “I am The Truth”)
• follow me (Greek akoloutheitO moi, an imperative command – Follow me!) – akoloutheitO means to walk alongside, shoulder to shoulder, step for step, in harmony with the other person (“I am The Way”)

Failure to Follow

When we akolouthei Christ, we demonstrate to the the world that The Lord Jesus Christ is THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life.  The Full Armor of God starts with the Belt of Truth.  In the Roman Soldier’s armor, the belt held everything together.  In the same way, Truth holds everything together.  When we fail to walk in truth, EVERYTHING falls apart…

The Qualifying Question

So, let’s ask the question – Am I walking in The Truth?

A short prayer of preparation:

Father in Heaven, You have provided us Your Son as our guide and example, for Jesus has said that if we have seen Him, we have seen You.  You are beautiful beyond description, and being in Your presence fills me with awe.  Examine and try me, and see if there is any wrongdoing in me.  Purge me of anything that does not conform to the image of Your Son, that I may walk in Truth and Righteousness.  Help me, Father, to be a better image bearer of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that all the world would see You on display when they look at me.  Help me to discard anything in my life that would even have the appearance of evil, that no one may claim that You are evil.  This I ask in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Want more?  Why not try A. B. Simpson or A. W. Tozer?