INDESPENSABLE VALUE....Understanding important truths from the Bible….

John 8:32  NKJV

 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Christ puts a premium on truth.  He gives us assurance that truth is within our privileges.  And there is a result so desirable that if for no other reason our quest for truth should be unceasing.

Truth, honesty, integrity or being dependable is necessary for friendship to develop and love to grow.  These virtues are those which hold society together.  They are in the main assumed.  A treaty among nations, a partnership among individuals, and a marriage between a man and a woman are made on the back of an honest commitment.

It is a demand on the believer to hear the Psalmist as he describes the righteous worshipper as one who “speaks the truth in his heart…He swears to his own hurt and does not change” Psalm 15:2B, 4C.  This is an unchanging demand of Scripture.  The failure in honesty is described in Proverbs as that which the Lord hates.  Proverbs 6:17B, 19A
…A lying tongue,  Hands that shed innocent blood,

John Bunyan toward the end of the second part of Pilgrim’s Progress, as Christiana and her children and her companion draw near the end of their journey introduces a certain Mr. Valiant-for-the-truth.  Most of the companions with Christian and Christiana are names which we readily recognize – Evangelist, Honest, Steadfast, and others.  But where does he find this particular traveler.  To find him you have to go to Jeremiah 9:3.  There it is an accusation against Israel that it is easy enough for them to be as they should be, but instead of being as they should be they are not valiant for the truth.

Here was enough for Bunyan to find this delightful character.  Valiant joins this band of Christians on their way to the Celestial City and is a most welcome addition.

He enters the stage bloody and weary from the opposition he has faced.  But it must be added he is never cast down.  Along the way he became one of the principals in affording protection and encouragement.  But where the genius of Bunyan meets us is in Mr. Valiant’s departure into the Celestial City.  Listen to Bunyans’ story.

After this it was noised abroad that Mr. Valiant-for-truth was taken with a summons by the same Post as the other, and had this for a token that the summons was true, “That his pitcher was broken at the fountain.” (Eccl. Xii 6)  When he understood it, he called for his friends, and told them of it.  Then he said, I am going to my Father’s; and though with great difficulty I have got hither, yet now I do not repent me of all the trouble I have been at to arrive where I am.  My sword I give to him that shall succeed me in my pilgrimage, and my courage and skill to him that can get it.  My marks and scars I carry with me, to be a witness for me that I have fought His battles who now will be my rewarder.  When the day that he must go hence was come, many accompanied him to the riverside, into which as he went he said, “Death, where is thy sting?”  And as he went down deeper, he said, “Grave where is thy victory?”  So he passed over, and all the trumpets sounded for him on the other side.

The Complete Works of John Bunyan Vol. 1, pg 133.

“My marks and scars I carry with me.”  About these marks and scars they came as he was opposed three against one.  When asked about this, “But here were great odds three against one.”  He responds, “Tis true; little or more are nothing to him that has the truth on his side.”  Pg. 125

A sincere question to you, “Will you be Valiant-for-the-truth?”l