Handling the Truth

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15, NIV 1984).

The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14, NIV 1984).

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie. (Romans 1:18–20, 25, NIV 1984).

My Musings – “You can’t handle the truth!” – Colonel Jessup (Jack Nicholson) in “A Few Good Men.” Reportedly, the original line in the script, before it was changed was, “you already have the truth.”

“Since the creation of the world, we already have the truth, because God has made [the truth] plain.” But way more than a few good men (and women) “suppress the truth” and exchange it “for a lie.” Although the truth can be understood, “because God has made it plain” their “godlessness and wickedness” leads them to “not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God.” As a result of this rejection, they are “without the Spirit.” What otherwise is “clearly seen, being understood” is seen as “foolishness to [them], and [they] cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

My Advice – Mankind is “without excuse.” We “[can] handle the truth” if we are open to the Gospel. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved” through the grace provided by Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. This is “the word of truth.

We “already have the truth.” Don’t be one who “can’t handle the truth.”