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Christians To Be As Transparent As Sunlight, February 26
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s
throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it
is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because
thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Matthew 5:34-36
.
Everything we possess comes to us stamped with the cross, bought with the
blood that is precious above all estimate, because it is the life of God. Hence there
is nothing that we have a right to pledge, as if it were our own, for the fulfillment
of our word....
Our Saviour did not, however, forbid the use of the judicial oath, in which God
is solemnly called to witness that what is said is truth and nothing but the truth.
Jesus Himself, at His trial before the Sanhedrin, did not refuse to testify under
oath. The high priest said unto Him, “I adjure thee by the living God, that thou
tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus answered, “Thou hast
said” (
Matthew 26:63, 64
)....
If there is anyone who can consistently testify under oath, it is the Christian.
He lives constantly as in the presence of God, knowing that every thought is open
to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do; and when required to do so in a
lawful manner, it is right for him to appeal to God as a witness that what he says
is the truth, and nothing but the truth....
Everything that Christians do should be as transparent as the sunlight. Truth
is of God; deception, in every one of its myriad forms, is of Satan.... It is not a
light or an easy thing to speak the exact truth. We cannot speak the truth unless
we know the truth, and how often preconceived opinions, mental bias, imperfect
knowledge, errors of judgment, prevent a right understanding of matters with
which we have to do! We cannot speak the truth unless our minds are continually
guided by Him who is truth.
Through the apostle Paul, Christ bids us, “Let your speech be alway with grace”
(
Colossians 4:6
). “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,
but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the
hearers” (
Ephesians 4:29
). In the light of these scriptures the words of Christ upon
the mount are seen to condemn jesting, trifling, and unchaste conversation. They
require that our words should be not only truthful, but pure.
Those who have learned of Christ will “have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness” (
chap. 5:11
). In speech, as in life, they will be simple,
straightforward, and true; for they are preparing for the fellowship of those holy
ones in whose mouth “was found no guile” (
Revelation 14:5
).—
Thoughts from
the Mount of Blessing, 66-69
.
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