Truth Claims

For those of you who have had the opportunity to view “The Truth Project”  (www.thetruthproject.org), you will likely remember the key statement made early on in the presentation…

“Do you really believe, that what you believe, is really real”?

When I first heard this I thought it was a cute play on words. I thought, of course, why would I say I believed in something, if I didn’t believe it was real. The host of the program, (Del Tackett) asked everyone in the group to consider the statement, as he said, “You will more than likely be “haunted” by the question in the coming weeks”. Of course, I considered myself the exception. I probably would not hear the question again, once the program was over.

That was close to three and a half years ago. I was confronted with the question the very first week. A situation had come up at work, there was room for negotiation and I could have handled it in one of two ways … by employing “Best Business Practices”, which would have been the safe bet, or by doing what I knew to be the “right thing” based on scripture. This last approach, even on the inside of a christian ministry, carried with it, huge risks.

As I weighed the two options, I heard the question, “Do you really believe that what you…”, yeh, that one! If I really believed what was written in the book, it should have been a no-brainer… why was I struggling then? Too much to lose? But wait, how can I lose … is ever being centered on scripture wrong? Maybe it’s a “trust” issue. It’s not the words I’m suppose to trust … it’s the person who said the words that gives them credibility and life. I either trust Him or I don’t!

Over the last several years I’ve been confronted with the question numerous times in all kinds of situations.

This morning, this question hit me like an artillery round. I didn’t even hear it coming. I felt particularly alone. Physically, no one else was home, but it was more than that. I’m bearing the weight and frustration of having to short sell my home. My family and I have to be out within thirty days and the prospects of finding a place to rent … discouraging to say the least and at times almost overwhelming. I have no family locally and only a few friends from church who I can share with.

The scripture is my only source of encouragement. It clearly says, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” That’s what I believe, but it’s extremely hard to grasp right now. “Do I believe, that what I believe is really real?” I do.

Lord help me in my weakness, knowing all things are under your hand and nothing happens outside of your plan.

Where else could I go?