"You Can't Hide the Truth"

Matthew 10.26-27 NIV

“So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.”

Nothing good comes from a lie. No matter how we spin our version, the truth is still the truth. There’s no running from it or refuting it. Sometimes truth hurts. It can be brutal. We may wish it away and cover it with insulating layers of denial but it remains what it is… the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

A woman called me because she was having marital issues. She needed someone to talk to. I agreed to meet with her and encouraged her to bring her husband along.

 

“I can’t do that”, she said. “He must not know we talked.” “Why not?”, I replied. “He does not know that I know what he’s been up to. If he knew I knew, he would divorce me.” I explained that my goal was to help her marriage and that speaking to me privately about “his problem”, whatever that was, would create an implied collusion between us and against him. That would only make matters worse for the marriage when he did find out. It is unhealthy and ultimately impossible to keep a secret in a marriage. Besides, he deserves the right to share his side of the story. Additionally, to withhold crucial information about what she knew of his behavior meant the relationship was based partly on a lie. Yes, it would be risky to expose the truth. He might get angry and threaten to quit the marriage. But wouldn’t that better than living a lie? Sometimes you have to risk what you have to get what you need. She decided not to meet with me.

We must not be afraid of the consequences of truth. Ultimately, what we work hard to conceal will “be disclosed” and what we try to hide will “be made known”. What Jesus tells you “in the dark”–ness of your prayer closet, “speak in the daylight”. What He whispers “in your ear, proclaim from the roofs”.

“Do not be afraid”. Trust Christ. Take a risk. Tell the truth.

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The hilarious cartoon in this post is entitled "Denial" by Tom Vencel, artist and freelance flash game maker, who was kind enough to grant me permission to display his cartoon here. Check out Tom's amazing work at http://www.ninjadoodle.com/. You'll be glad you did.