The Hard Truth

It is difficult sometimes to tell the truth. I think of doctors who run a series of tests and find a spot or a lump or something else. They want to tell their patients that everything is okay. But they have to tell the truth so they can prescribe a course of treatment.

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, we read of a time when Daniel had to reveal the hard truth to King Nebuchadnezzar. He said, "King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper" (4:27). In other words, "Judgment is coming, but there is still hope if you will repent."

In the same way, as Christians we have to declare the whole counsel of God. Paul told the elders of the Ephesian church, "I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know" (Acts 20:26–27). Yet sometimes we edit out things we are uncomfortable with, like Hell or judgment. We’ll say something like, "Believe in Jesus, and He will make you a happier person and bring you fulfillment. There will be joy and contentment in your life."

"I don’t want to believe in Jesus," the other person replies. "What happens if I don’t believe in Jesus?"

We need to give them the truth. However, we don’t say it with smiles on our faces; we say it with tears in our eyes. It isn’t easy to tell someone, "The Bible says there is a judgment, and if we don’t believe in Jesus Christ, there actually is a place called Hell." We must tell the truth.