The Truth Is Always Good

Today’s reading: John 7:37-39

Many times in my life I have naively risen during meetings and found myself speaking passionately for just causes and The Truth. I usually laugh when I see movie characters doing the same:  they seem to have a much easier time of it.

In real life, I’ve found, standing up for  The Truth is rarely applauded and supported as movies tend to portay. It is usually just ignored, but sometimes it is belittled and punished.

In otherwords, I’ve found Jesus’s story to be more realistic than Hollywood’s.

Since my high school days, I have not hesitated to act and speak boldly for The Truth, and my “career” has suffered from that habit. Many who know me in academia, politics, media and a number of other professional fields will say (privately, of course) I make them nervous and steering clear of me is best. I have yet to experience the kind of victory we see in famous films like Norma Rae, To Sir With Love, Eryn Brockovich or even the recent Promised Land.

But it always inspires me to remember that Jesus was blacklisted too.

Jesus’s eternally encouraging words in today’s reading come after it is clear — to everyone — that police are searching for him. He knows that not a soul at this festival will rise to support him (and in fact, he knows that one of his “friends” will soon lead the police directly to him), yet he speaks boldly anyway.

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” (Verse 38)

That is all I need to keep the Jesus’s own River of Truth forever flowing from my mouth.

Thanks be to God for His promise of eternal salvation. May it continue to give me inspiration to always speak The Truth.