Glimpses of Truth
1300 and Counting
Time surely does slip away. It was 26 years ago this week that I started writing a weekly column in this publication. “Column” - it’s spelled the same as “a supporting pillar consisting of a base, a cylindrical shaft, and a capital.” That’s according to Webster.
It’s also spelled the same as “two or more vertical sections of typed or printed lines lying side by side and divided by a space,” like you see in this paper each day. It’s also “a formation, as of troops or vehicles in which all elements follow one behind the other.” It’s other things also, but for me it’s two-and-one-half pages of written thoughts which come your way each week. Webster defines it as “a feature article that appears regularly as in a publication.”
I don’t think that I ever thought of this column as a “feature” article. Yet, maybe I have. Well, okay, I have. I have thought of it as an opportunity to communicate, hopefully, some truths to encourage, truths to cause us to question, truths to cause you to think. After all, we really can’t go wrong with truths.
When I write each week, it’s usually about what I’ve got on my mind. That’s scary! Writing this column almost always makes me read for ideas. There’s nothing new in my mind - - - - But I am after (seeking) truths, sometimes shallow – sometimes deep.
I have a number of books by Charles Swindoll. In one book, entitled “Hand Me Another Brick,” he says, “When we get beneath surface facts and start to traffic in the realm of in-depth truth, two things usually happen: (1) we walk in total obedience, and (2) we discover genuine happiness.” That’s something for us to chew on for awhile. Chewing is really needed in today’s society. If we don’t, we’ll swallow anything whole. That’s bad – really bad. Chewing is the only way we learn about obedience. Obedience is the only way we ever find happiness. That’s the NJE Version of Chuck Swindoll’s statement.
Do you ever take God’s Word and write your own version? No? You do it every day by the way you live. It’s always the truth which has the opportunity to change us. Change happens – I don’t think so! When I see real changes (for the good) in the life of a person, it’s always because they have embraced truth. There is always a testimony of what God did. God always does a good work. And real change, real growth only has a chance to develop on the heels of deep, honest thinking about our lives before the truths of God.
Often when I write to you, my mind is filled with lives of those who have gone to be with the Lord or those who often work behind the scenes to make what I do each week successful. I know a few of my readers; you say kind things to me every so often. Others of you I’ve never met. I have a “featured” column, but listen: you and your gifts are valuable. Remember, God knows your faithfulness. God is not counting. He’s not waiting for my 1,301st column.
So how shall I close the “featured article” today? Okay, here goes. We all seek to be fulfilled, to be happy. Things and outward circumstances really don’t get it. But rather, a focus on real truth is life-changing -- the deeper, the better. Truth often brings us to our knees. But being on our knees often brings us to truth. Happy chewing!
