Spirit of Truth

John 16:12-15

Jesus said, 'I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.'

I can't begin to count the number of times I have heard somebody say something like: "The truth hurts."

Sometimes truth confronts us and acts as an agent of complete reversal: "The truth hit me like a brick wall." Truth in this case stops us in our tracks and we KNOW in some amazing way that there is no turning back from what has been revealed.

At other times truth comes to us as a whisper...a glimmer of deeper awareness that nudges us along the road of gradual formation. In these cases there are flutters of awareness...a sense that something is inviting us to stay open to new information about some facet of ourselves (or our situation).

It seems to me that Jesus knew that human beings would forever be confronted by all sorts of false information rooted in illusion and deception. The information may come either from an outside source (a specific authority figure or a generalized "they") or from the many voices that rattle around in our own inner landscape. He knew that we couldn't sift through human knowledge and glean the Wisdom of the Father without help.

So.... He spoke of the promise and power of the Holy Spirit.

Truth is given. It is not something you can create on your own. As you are led by God's Holy Spirit, you are taken to the essential truth about yourself, about others, and about God. It may feel like it is bruising you...or stretching you. But if it is God's Truth it will surround you at the same time with His sheltering embrace.

Truth will not kill anything that is of God. It will dissolve all that is false and everything that is drawing you towards the darkness of fear or anxiety (or any other manifestation of sin.) Centered in God's truth given to you (through the Holy Spirit) you are clothed in love...and light...which transforms you.

In God's truth you are part of eternal and abundant life and love. So whether truth is stretching you gently or hitting you over the head like a hammer...stay with it...no ill can come of it!