The Sober Truth

 The Sober Truth

Acts 26:19-25 

19 “After that, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the countryside of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance. 21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. 22 To this day I have had help from God, and so I stand here, testifying to both small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would take place: 23 that the Messiah must suffer, and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

24 While he was making this defense, Festus exclaimed, “You are out of your mind, Paul! Too much learning is driving you insane!” 25 But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking the sober truth.”

I used to work at a bread bakery during the summer months to earn my college tuition for the upcoming school year.  Each year, on the last day of work before I returned to school, a man who had worked at the bakery for 25 years would catch me before I left, shake my hand and say, “Lanier, don’t study too much.  If you do, you will get stupid. And time and the river will never be able to change you.”

Festus accused Paul of studying too much, having too much learning and being driven insane from his studies.  Paul simply replied that he was speaking the truth.

There is a saying that the truth will set us free.  In this case the truth caused the Governor to think Paul was crazy.

In this modern world where there are so many distractions, so many voices, so many “truths” being professed, the gospel of Christ doesn’t seem as crazy as it seems quaint and old fashioned to the non-believer.

But the gospel of Christ is still the sober truth.  And time and the river will never change that.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)