by Maurice M. Hebert
As I stood in the checkout line adjusting the goods I had purchased in my carry box, a young man excused himself passing through to gain access to the measuring scale behind the counter. He carried a modest size box a bit larger than a shoe box. It was bound in leather and appeared to have been in use for many generations. He lifted the two brass latches on either side and opened the box to reveal uniform blocks of shiny metal. It was apparently a set of standard weights. The care with which they have been handled and stored over the years revealed a sense of awe and respect for these shiny blocks of metal. I am guessing they were made of either polished hardened or stainless steel. They surely held some value beyond the price of whatever they were made of for they were conspicuously cradled within felt lined compartments.
I watched as he picked up a handful of eight blocks or so and placed them on the scale and checked the numbers that came up on the digital readout. He moved the whole group of them around to different positions on the metal plate noting the numbers at each position. He soon finished the ritual and gently placed all the blocks back in their snug compartments, closed the box and left as discreetly as he had arrived.
Completing the checkout process for my box of goods I pondered this ritual and was intrigued by how much effort we place upon insisting that all of our material dealings with each other are kept fair and square. We place such great value upon honest trade in weights and measures. We do not like to be cheated in any amount for goods we trade or purchase. Then I imagined what it would be like if we placed the same value upon our relationships with each other, with God and the truth.
Is there a standard by which we can know and gauge the truth? If there is none, should there be? How do we know we are not being cheated? There is no other book that explains the truth as consistently and concisely as the Bible. Norman Geisler writes in his article “The Inerrancy of the Bible”
“The Scriptures declare emphatically that “it is impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:18, NASB). Paul speaks of the “God who does not lie” (Titus 1:2, NIV). He is a God who, even if we are faithless, “He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13, NKJV). God is truth (see John 14:6), and so is His Word. Jesus said to the Father, “Your word is truth” (John 17:17, NKJV). The psalmist exclaimed, “The entirety of Your word is truth” (Ps. 119:160, NKJV).”
Many of us have witnessed the disastrous effects of lies in history and in our personal lives. We balance and gauge our trust in people according to past history, appearances, experience, reputation and circumstance. Is there someone we can fully trust to tell us the truth at all times so we may live our lives in that relationship without fear of being cheated? Yes, there is, search Him out, His name is Jesus.
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
http://biblehub.com/john/14-6.htm
Momeaning 