Saturday, March 18, 2017

Fact OR Truth?

I have always been a fan of courtroom drama.  I have read countless numbers of novels and books about our legal system. I have even had the opportunity on occasion to sit in court and watch the drama that is carried out every day.  My favorite television shows usually center around some part of the system of justice.  Our legal system in courtrooms across America has one aim and that is to present facts throughout the course of a trial in order that they might discover the truth.  But if you’ve observed for very long you will know that fact does not always equal truth.  Throughout every day in the courtroom there are men and women who will in all honesty present facts and then promptly turn those facts not into truth but into lies.  It never ceases to amaze me that two different people can have the same set of facts and come up with several different “truths”.  Why?  Because fact does not equate to truth.

Facts are simply the exact happenings of events that have taken place.  What can be scientifically proven to have occurred is a fact.  But a truth is so much more. It is what has actually occurred despite the facts. Once a truth has been realized there can be no doubt no matter what the facts say.  Let me show you what I mean:

Fact: Lazarus is dead.
Fact: He has been buried for 4 days.
Fact: By now he stinks.
Truth: Jesus is the resurrection and the life.


Fact: Jesus died at Calvary
Fact: He was buried in a borrowed tomb.
Fact: The stone was sealed with the governor’s seal to insure that grave robbers would not come and steal the body.
Truth: On the third day, early on Easter morning, the tomb is empty and today we serve a risen savior.


The fact of the matter is that every indication points to the fact that we are worthless, without hope, deserve judgment, and have no right to even approach the throne of God.  And yet the truth is we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, called out of darkness and into His marvelous light.


You see something happens when the facts come in contact with the word of God.  The facts no matter how grim or confusing can not stand under the weight of the truth.  Why? Because “thy word is truth. . .”


Fact:  You may be sick in your body.
Truth: By his stripes you are already healed.


Fact:  You may be racked with guilt over the mistakes of your past.
Truth: He has cast my iniquity into the sea and remembers it no more.


Fact:  You may be lonely without a friend in the world.
Truth: There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother and he will never leave you nor fosake you.


Fact:  You may be facing obstacles that you can’t overcome.
Truth: I serve a God who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all I can ask or think and I can do all things through Him.


Fact: You may be bound up, can’t move, can’t worship, can’t hardly make it.
Truth: The word says that the Truth will make you free. ---


The Fact is that that there are many different paths that people are on today. The Fact is that there are many different roads that lead to various places.  But the truth is this morning there is only one way to get to where you need to go. There is only one path. There is only one road.  Jesus said in John 14:6: “. . ."I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  Today, regardless of how bad the facts may say the situation is, regardless of what the reports may say, regardless of the conditions or the circumstances, you can count on God's truth to be greater than the facts.

To all of those who faithfully read, I say, once again, Thanks!  I appreciate the opportunity to share my thoughts with you all.  Please take a moment and say a prayer for my mom.  The facts say some pretty dreadful things. . . but the truth is, God is able.  I'm choosing to place my trust in the truth.  I hope you will too!  God bless you all - RP



Thursday, March 9, 2017

How Great is our God!

I woke up this morning with alot of things running through my mind.  Worries, frustrations, fears, family situations, financial struggles, decisions that need to be made, on and on my mind running rampant.  So I decided to spend some time in prayer.  And as I began to pray, I kept hearing one thought over and over in my mind.  "How Great Is Your God!"  "How Great Is Your God!" 

The Heavens are His throne.  The Earth is His footstool.  He has storehouses for rain, snow, hail, even the waters of the deep.  His mercy is inexhaustable, it's renewed every morning.  His love never fails.  He hangs planets and stars on nothing.  He holds everything together by the words of His mouth.  His grace is Amazing.  His power knows no limits.  He knows everythings.  There's no place that He is not.  If we go to the heighest heights, He's there.  If we descend to the deepest depths, He's there.  Everything that exists, exists within Him.  He is not slack concerning His promises.  He cares for every bird, every flower and maintains knowledge of every single hair on our heads.  Nothing is too hard for Him.  How truly and amazingly great is our wonderful God!

In light of His greatness - I'm just gonna trust Him with my cares, my worries, my fears, and my struggles.  After all, if He can't handle it, then I have no hope.  But today my hope is in Christ!  I hope yours is as well!  Until next time - God Bless - Love you all!  - RP