THE TRUTH WILL OUT

READING: ACTS 19:23-41

Verse 27: “So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the word worship.”

The truth of God is powerful and compelling. In fact, it is so compelling that people at times confess it even though they don’t understand what they are doing, don’t know they are doing it and would  strongly object if they did know. There is a scriptural case in point, and it is found in Acts 19:27 as quoted above. In the city of Ephesus, Christian truths were interfering with the sale of shrines which were used to worship a Roman goddess. A silversmith who made these shrines saw this Christian  influence as a threat to his occupation and began to incite his fellow silversmiths against it. He frightened them by telling them that Christianity would drive them out of business and diminish the goddess whose reputation was at stake. This man’s intent was malicious and fully ungodly. Even so, regardless of the destructive nature of his motive, he powerfully spoke the truth about what would happen. He was an involuntary prophet of truth, although it was against his own will and purpose. This event is another demonstration of the power of truth which must, and will, be expressed. Not  even its greatest opponents of truth will be able to suppress it as ordained by Almighty God. That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. How will you respond in the future when you observe truth being involuntarily spoken?

2. Can you identify another situation in the Bible when truth was inadvertently spoken?