True & False
“I am the way truth and life.” John 14:6
In the world, what is needed most is the “TRUTH.” We all seek for truth. We praise it and honor it. At times, we also abuse it. Truth can be abused because it is naked and beautiful. It is not something that has to be dressed or decorated.
The opposite of truth is false. Falsehood is disguised, masked and hidden. Falsehood is never embarrassed. Most times, it escapes without punishment. It appears in politics and in the economy and in between relationships.
“Very few people want to hear the complete truth about himself,” says Laroshfuko. No one knows you better than you know yourself. Yet, I must ask, do you really know yourself? Are you honest with yourself? Do you want to know your REAL self?
When you ARE honest with yourself, you find the power to change that which is holding you back from success; you are motivated to work, to create, to build and reach your dreams, rather than simply traveling in circles and getting nowhere.
On the other hand, being dishonest with yourself simply drains the energy from your life and causes grief within the lie you live. Dishonesty is exhausting and makes you grumpy and unhappy.
Greek philosophers have taught us to “know ourselves.” These days, we tend to think about others, teach others, change others, advise others, rather than thinking about ourselves, and learning who we are, truly. We dislike those who notice our defects and faults. Remember that old saying, “it is better to have an enemy who tells you about your faults, rather than a friend who covers them.”
Do we want to peer into the spiritual mirror to see ourselves with all of our faults and goodness? Armenian poet Paruyr Sevak, disappointingly said, “Is it worth selling mirrors in a neighborhood of blind people?” For believers, the Gospel is the mirror, this being the Word of Christ.
One needs courage to look in that spiritual mirror. However, looking in that mirror alone, does not cut it – we must learn to recognize ourselves. In a proverb, a monkey looks in the mirror, pointing at himself and laughing. The bear asks, “Why are you laughing?” The monkey replies, “Look at it, the ugly face, making weird expressions.” The bear responds, “Don’t you realize, it is you in there?”
It IS you, your own reflection in the mirror. God, our creator, forbids falsehood as a part of the 10 commandments. Though we know liars are not permitted into the heavenly kingdom, it makes no difference. have liars, cheaters, gossipers, selfishness and jealousy still exists; those people whose spiritual mirror is broken. Such people enjoy spreading falsehood and rumors. It’s become their profession in order to gain attention.
A small lie will not really change anything yet, it can become a very big lie that affect us. Falsehood, lies and rumors destroy families, divide relationships and turn old friends into enemies. A lie told often enough becomes a false ‘‘truth.” Falsehood is abominable for God, either by words or actions. God dislikes lying tongues and deceiving hands.
Here’s a story by Vartan Igekstzi:
There once was a mother and her son. They mixed water into their cow’s milk to sell, in order to increase their profits. One day, the son came back from the mountains without their cows. His mother was asking where are the cows? The son, knowing his mistake, said, “Oh mother, everyday that we added water to the milk to sell, all that water has been collected and has flooded the mountains and has washed the animals away.” They lost their animals but gained truth. Truth will bring positive change to your life.
Never mix water into your words for one day, it will come back to wash you away. Always be responsible for the words that you speak and actions you carry out. Happiness is never built on falsehood and deceit.
Let us always remember that Christ IS the truth and WE are the children of that truth. We are a new creation, a new man. Yes, a changed man. God’s word changed US!
I would like to share a wonderful poem with you now, written by Portia Nelson entitled “There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk:
Chapter One
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost… I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter Two
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in the same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter Three
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in… it’s a habit.
My eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault… I get out immediately.
Chapter Four
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter Five
I walk down another street.
Philosophical poem – choose a new route. Not the same one that keeps leading you to fall down a hole. Do not pretend that you don’t see the hole. Just find a new pathway – it is there.
“I am the way truth and life.” John 14:6
fr Zacharia Saribekyan
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