Promises and Pinky Swears

Do you remember that as a kid, that you’d share some amazing story with a friend, and when confronted by their doubting looks, you could simply say, “Cross my heart”, perform the aforementioned symbolic act, and all doubt disappeared?  After all, who but a truth-teller would ever risk saying, “cross my heart and hope to die”?  Promises were equally binding as a kid IF each party was willing to agree to a “Pinky Swear”.  That simple act (with a gruesome backstory) was intended to cement for perpetuity whatever deal had been struck.  Children devise such actions because trust is critical to functioning in life.  We are often faced with decisions about which we may not be SURE, but about which we must be confident.   Even kids know that.

Yet as an adult, I can’t remember the last time I crossed my heart or made a pinky promise.  Our world constantly confronts us with important and perhaps life-changing information, but in this age of the internet and fake news, how can we be sure that what we hear is really true?  We have been led to believe that even reliable sources may intend to mislead us, and if experience has taught us anything, it is that “people lie.”  Why has truth become such a rare commodity and who can we trust to be honest with us in every circumstance? 

Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to build up the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, ² in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. ³ In His own time He has revealed His message in the proclamation that I was entrusted with by the command of God our Savior.  Titus 1:1-3

The simplest, safest answer to the question “Who can we trust?” is God alone.  That makes our lives fairly complicated, because He rarely (OK, maybe never) speaks directly and audibly to me.  But Paul, in writing this note to Titus, gives us some guidelines for trusting OTHERS that I hope you’ll apply to those who supposedly speak truth into your life. 

·         There are some who have been “entrusted by God” to share truth.  We can believe them, once we identify them.  Treasure these folks in your life. 

·         Those who share, offer truth to “build up the faith” of those who follow God.  Is what you’re hearing building up your faith?  If not, don’t trust it!

·         Whatever you’re hearing, IF it is truth, it will “lead to godliness”.  If what you’re hearing is leading you AWAY from godliness, cover your ears!

·         The ONE TRUTH that matters, is that THIS life is all about preparing us for ETERNAL life, promised to us by a God who cannot lie.  If we listen through the filter of eternity, it makes it a lot easier to determine what is true and whose promises we can believe.

In a world filled with the overwhelming noise of lies, we even hear those who would deny the truth of Jesus, and those lies seem to attack every aspect of who He is.  Was He really born of a virgin?  Was He really dead on the cross?  Did He really come back to life as a sign that we will, too?  Did He really say that HE is the ONLY way to find forgiveness from a Holy God?  Is He really coming back again to receive those who believe and judge those who don’t?  The truth is, YES, YES, YES, YES, and YES.  Can you believe me?  If it helps, I could say “Cross my heart”, but God already did that. 

Jacob