TRUTH HAS WINGS

Let us dwell on the whole truth, not half-truths. 

The cross represents the foolishness of God. But even the foolishness of God is greater and more sublime than the wisdom of man.

What does the cross accomplish for man?

It demonstrates the LOVE (mercy, grace) of God. Through the blood of Christ shed at the cross, our sins are forgiven.

It also demonstrates the JUSTICE (righteousness, wrath) of God. God cannot overlook sin. Sin has to be punished and Jesus became the scapegoat. He took the penalty for our sins.

In the cross, we see the two contrasting attributes of God – His soft side and harsh side.

Is God soft? Yes. He is loving, merciful, gracious, quick to forgive, slow to anger.

Is God harsh? Yes. He is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29). A God of justice and righteousness.

He is both soft and harsh. Truth has wings. One major truth has to be balanced with the other.

Love and mercy are important attributes of God. But He is also a God of justice and righteousness. “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you” (Psalm 89:14). He is the Lamb of God and the Lion of Judah as well. He who once rode on a colt as a man is now ensconced on His heavenly throne as the King of Kings.

The story of the six blind men who felt different parts of an elephant is highly instructive. Each perceived the pachyderm differently. Its trunk was likened to a snake, leg to a tree trunk, tail to a rope, ear to a fan, tusk to a spear and body to a wall. So what is an elephant like? We can only perceive correctly when we have a composite picture.

The four Gospels portray various facets of Jesus – as King (in Matthew), as servant (in Mark), as the perfect man (in Luke) and as the Creator, God incarnate (in John). Their accounts complement one another, giving us a composite picture of His nature and work.

Is all the foregoing merely to tickle our minds?

No. Not at all. A wrong picture of God may have deadly consequences.

Thinking erroneously that He is always meek and mild may prove disastrous when we’re confronted by God the judge at the end of our life journey or when Christ returns (Hebrews 9:27, 1 Peter 4:7, 17). 

                                                                               
It is wise not to “cherry pick”. Tozer warns: "Heresy is not so much rejecting as selecting.” By examining the whole Bible, we do not dwell on half-truths or emphasise one truth at the expense of another equally fundamental truth (Acts 20:27). 

So let us dwell on the whole truth, not half-truths. Because truth has wings.