"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
Jesus had just made a radical statement. His disciplines were uneducated, working class men living in Roman-occupied territory ruled by the brutal “Herod the Great.” Historians tell us Herod murdered his father-in-law, four of his ten wives, and two of his sons. This man and his successors terrorized Galilee and Judaea. In the traditional sense, these men were not free.
God’s promise to be set free by the truth transcends circumstances, personal limitations, and even governments. And yet, many in our culture have chosen to take a hard pass. They have opted, instead, to be free from the truth. Tragically, they choose to substitute narratives for facts and reason.
We’re all guilty of this at times. We tell ourselves stories to make us feel better. The February 2021 cover of Cosmopolitan magazine in the UK features morbidly obese, mid-aged women in exercise attire and celebrates them as the “new healthy.” Wellness is not a one-size-fits-all, the author claims. This is part of the “body neutrality movement,” he said, which doesn’t focus on one’s own appearance.
The problem with narratives is that they conceal (i.e. hide) facts, but they don’t change them. Heart Disease remains the number 1 killer worldwide, and obesity presents a significant risk factor for cardiovascular and other chronic disease.
Being set free by the truth—God’s Truth—isn’t an easy process. It requires walking into the light, and the light can be every bit as scary as the dark because it exposes everything. No more hiding behind other people; no more hiding behind stories and narratives; no more hiding. Period.
Do you value your freedom? Follow the Truth… where He goes.
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