The Truth About the Truth (1)

“You desire truth in the inward parts.” Ps 51:6 NKJV

According to Psychology Today, more people say they have cheated on their marriage partners than on their income tax returns or expense accounts. Nearly half say that if they scratched another car in the parking lot they would drive away without leaving a note, although 89 percent agree that it would be wrong. Perhaps the question shouldn’t be, “Why does God demand such honesty of us?”, but rather, “Why do we tolerate such dishonesty?” Jeremiah weighs in: “The heart is deceitful above all things” (Jer 17:9 NIV). For many of us, our credo is, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you squirm.” At the age of three, when Mom asked, “Did you hit your little brother?” we knew that honesty had its consequences. So we learned to say, “Uhhhh, well, it’s not really lying.” We learned to cover things up. “Did I hit my baby brother? That all depends on how you interpret the word hit. I mean, sure, I made contact with him, but would a jury consider it a hit? Everything is relative, you know.” We say, “Did I hit my baby brother? Yes, Mom, I did. But it’s not my fault. Had I been born with nonaggressive chromosomes and had you not permitted me to watch television, it would never have happened. So I can say I hit my brother, but the fault isn’t mine. I’m a victim of nurture and nature.” We smile, but the Psalmist said, “You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” And that’s the truth about the truth.

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