I recently went to see a film called the Christophers which, by the way, I would heartily recommend. It stars Ian McKellen as a painter renowned for two series of paintings called the ‘Christophers’ but who has lost his muse and not painted anything of note for thirty years or so. I won’t give any more of the storyline away, just in case you do go to see the film. Suffice to say that it raised questions about the creation of art and the nature of the art world.
One of those questions concerned forgeries. There was a scenario in the film where a painting had been forged but it was observed that nobody directly involved would be happy with the truth about the forgery coming out. Not the forger who had been well paid for their work. Nor the art gallery who sold it and took their commission. Nor the buyer who would see the value of their ‘asset’ reduced to nothing. These were people who did not want to hear the truth because for them the truth was inconvenient.
We live in a world that presently reflects that scenario. Many people do not want to face the political truth that turning things around isn’t going to come without some pain and hardship. There is a certain type of politician who will trade on this with empty and almost certainly undeliverable promises that are lapped up by desperate people who would rather not face up to the truth if the truth is rather less palatable.
Then there are those who are so aligned to a particular worldview or opinion that they never bother questioning the truth of their position. Not helped by social media algorithms that constantly feed them more of the same, they are not prepared to consider that truth might be found by looking at life from a different perspective.
We live as post-Pentecost Christians. We have the Holy Spirit not just with us but in us and Jesus tells us that the Spirit living in us is the ‘Spirit of truth’.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. (John 16:13)
What a wonderful privilege to have. Don’t waste it. Always run human pronouncements and promises past the Holy Spirit and let him sift out the wheat from the chaff; the truth from the untruth. That way we will not easily be taken in and, as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us, may we reflect not just truth but Jesus, the way, the TRUTH and the life.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, in a world that has lost sight of the value of truth, I pray that you will lead me more and more into truth and away from falsehood. Grant me discernment and courage to change course where necessary. Amen.