The Facts of The Matter

“There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.”
Arthur Conan Doyle, The Boscombe Valley Mystery - a Sherlock Holmes Short Story

Are facts always truthful? Is truth always factual?

God’s Truth is not constrained by our understanding of what we deem factual. We may perceive or “see” something before us and believe that it must be true because of what our eyes deliver to our brains or what our emotions cause us to feel. But seeing is not the best litmus test for accepting or believing something is true, regardless of the facts that may lay before us.

We have become accustomed to using phrases such as “See for yourself” or “The facts speak for themselves”, usually when we find ourselves trying to prove, or defend an argument or a stance we have taken. Our opinions are forged by many variables - emotional or physical wounding; stress; health issues, or even the level of self-esteem we have about ourselves. Is it any wonder how skewed or unhealthy filters are erected in our minds and hearts, usually going unnoticed for long periods. Too often our opinions become so entrenched we fail to discern fact from fiction - truth from (false) facts….or in other words - lies.

Here are a few sample elements we struggle with from time to time as Christians. For every proclamation that is set up against your value as a person, God counters with His Truth about who you really are.

Lie - God is disappointed by you.
Truth - You are loved dearly and unconditionally by God.
Psalm 139:14 - I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Lie - What you see is all you are going to get.
Truth - You have more going for you than meets the eye.
Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Lie - You always fail and are destined to do so.
Truth - I am more than a conquerer.
Romans 8:37 - No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Lie - You will never be enough, have enough, or have anything of value to offer.
Truth - God gives all you need for what He has called you to do, for who you are to be in all  seasons.
Romans 12:6 - We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Lie - You never get things right and you don’t measure up.
Truth - My value is not conditional on my successes or failures.
Psalms 139: 13,14 - For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Once we understand who Jesus is, we are then free to pursue and embrace the real truth about who we are. This in turn will allow us to bind and banish fraudulent facts. 

Matthew‬ ‭16:15-19 - “He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”