All truth matters

Black lives matter. Of course. You know what else matters? TRUTH. I question whether those loudly and proudly condemning the police, certain politicians, and virtually all whites as racists believe that truth matters. If they did, America in 2020 would be a lot more peaceful and united than it currently is.

The facts surrounding the deaths of Breonna Taylor, Jacob Blake, Rayshard Brooks, Michael Brown and others killed by the police that contradict the narrative of racism are disregarded by the protesters and rioters. What seems to matter to those up in arms over racism even more than black lives is taking advantage of an opportunity to seize power and influence for themselves. Promoting a particular narrative that serves their purposes matters more to them than the truth as well.

None of this is new. Humans have been failing to love and value truth since Adam and Eve let selfish motives turn them away from the God who is Truth. And none of this is surprising. Because Truth is so essential to God’s nature, rejecting him is essentially rejecting Truth. If God doesn’t matter, neither does truth.

But notice what is most prominent in God’s commands and expectations for humanity:

These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace; do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD. – Zechariah 8:16-17

It’s truth. TRUTH matters. A lot. Justice and peace depend on it; righteousness and goodness are impeded without it.

Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter. – Isaiah 59:14

We are suffering as individuals and as a nation because truth has not only stumbled in the public squares but has summarily been stomped on and suppressed.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. – Romans 1:18

The truth is, God is sovereign and we are his subjects…whether or not we acknowledge it. Every politician, every activist, every protester, rioter, and looter…every one of us owes everything we are and have, including our allegiance and obedience, to God. Who…truth be told…actually loves us, even when we ignore and rebel against him.

Still…and this is the Gospel truth…though he wants all of us to know him and know truth (but I repeat myself) and be with him for all eternity, if we persist in our rejection of Truth, God will someday consign us to the lies and deceptions we love now. But we will not love them then, and will spend eternity knowing how very much Truth matters.

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. – 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10