Discovering Truth That Makes A Difference
Many of our favorite stories begin with these words: "Once upon a time." Those stories enchant us, entertain us, and often teach us a valuable life lesson. But when we hear the words "once upon a time," there's one thing we know for sure –the story isn't true. It's made up; it's a fairy tale. Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Prince Charming, Rumpelstiltskin, Pinocchio – all fascinating characters, but none of them are real; their stories aren't true.
But the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey to the cheers of "Hosanna!" – true story. The story of an innocent Jesus being arrested, tried, beaten and crucified – true story. The story of Jesus physically rising from the dead and appearing to hundreds of amazed people – true story. And not only are the stories true, but Jesus claimed to himself be "the Truth" when he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
In the TV show "Once Upon A Time" we are told that the Evil Queen has cast a curse on all our favorite fairy tale characters as part of a plot to take revenge on Snow White and Prince Charming. A boy name Henry believes that there's only one person who can "reverse the curse" and save his world – his biological mother, Emma, the daughter of Snow and Charming.
Entertaining, creative – but, of course, not true. After all, the story is called "once upon a time." But one might call the story of the Bible "once upon the Truth." The Bible tells us that, in fact, our world is under a curse and that there is an "evil one" who is our enemy. But then came Jesus, who himself is the Truth, who broke the curse by his death and resurrection and who delivered us from the evil one's power. As Jesus said, "The truth will set you free." (John 8:32) The Bible invites us to build our lives on the Truth that Jesus is the Savior of the world. Join us at Cornerstone as we discover the difference the Truth makes and how we can live fully and freely only when we build our lives "once upon the Truth."
