How Much Truth Do We Want

How Much Truth Do We Want

May 20, 2012 Genesis 2:15-25 1 Corinthians 6:1-20

For those of you who have watched Star Trek or are sci-fi fans, every once in a while you will see an episode about an alternate universe. Something happens and a person is put in this alternate universe in which the people are the same, but the circumstances in life are very different. If I entered the alternate universe, instead of being the pastor, I might be a homeless person.

But someone coming from the first universe, would see in me the ability to help organize people to reach a goal. The episode would be built around me organizing the homeless for a revolution of some kind. You go away from the episode wondering if there is another parallel universe taking place that we can’t see.

Jesus comes along and states that, “yes there is a parallel existence taking place that we are not aware of in this world. “It exist in the same time and space that we are in now. When Jesus had been arrested, Jesus had been brought to Pilate to be found guilty of all kinds of charges of treason against the Roman government. Pilate asks Jesus, ‘what have you done.” Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.

Pilate says, “You are a King then.” Jesus responds, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Jesus has given us a picture of a kingdom which is laid on top of a kingdom that exists side by side. Only those who respond to the truth, put themselves under his kingdom. I want you to notice that Jesus never demanded that anyone follow him. Jesus specifically says ,” if anyone wants to follow me, let him/her deny himself, pick up his cross and come follow me.” Jesus demand a total kind of allegiance to Himself.

Jesus already had the rules established in his kingdom. There was and there is room for only one king. Absolutely no one would be forced there against their will. The price to enter the kingdom is the same for everyone which is to deny themselves, pick up their crosses and come follow Jesus. Jesus said he came to testify to the truth. A follower of Jesus is going to have to learn how to live in the kingdom of this world and be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to give us the truth about God and what God requires of us.

Suppose you took your car in to a dealer to have your brakes checked out because your car has been slow to stop. The repair person tells you the car would be ready at 5:00. You go back at 5 and the person says, “your car is ready to go.” All you owe is $15. You are delighted that’s all you owe, because you were thinking you might get a big bill. You drive out the lot, and when you come to the first light, you pushed on the brakes but the car keeps going. You see a truck coming from the right side full speed ahead. You swerve to miss the truck and crash into a park car. How many of you are going back to the car repair shop?

What if you say, “why didn’t you tell me, my brakes were no good and were going out.” What if the person said, “I didn’t want to make you feel bad about your car. I knew you didn’t have a lot of money to spend on the brakes, and I didn’t want to charge you what it would take to completely overhaul your brakes.

I want you to know that we love and accept you here at the shop, and we want you to send others to our shop to have repairs done. If I had of told you, how much it would cost to fix your brakes, I know you would have gone to someone else.” How many of you would have preferred knowing the truth as oppose to saving some money.”

Suppose you went to the doctor for a check up. After the physical, the doctor told you that you were in perfect health and that you had the body of an Olympic athlete. You smiled and thanked the doctor. Suppose later that day you collapsed from a heart attack, and had to be rushed to the hospital. You called your doctor and said, you’ll never guess what happened to me.”

What if the doctor said, “I’d bet you had a heart attack. In my office, I noticed you blood pressure was high, your arteries were clogged, and you were showing signs of stress.” I would have told you, but I did not want to get you upset by the bad news. I knew you had plans for your life and who was I to try to change them. Remember judge not lest you be judged. “How many of you would have preferred knowing the truth as oppose to believing you were okay when you really were not.