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| The Bottom
Line ::: D Elliot, United Kingdom |
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"Don't be scared to use your good
sense...do not be swayed by emotion. Decide where truth
lies. "
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These were the summing up words of a Trail Judge, Mr
Justice Moses to the jury, on the final day (11/12/03) of
a case at the historic Courtroom Number One of the Old
Bailey, England. I cannot say exactly, what lead me to
take interest in this: maybe my past experience with the
drama of legal work or possibly just curiosity, but
whatever the case; the words "Decide where truth
lies" stuck to me. This seemed to be the bottom line
of what the judge was saying. Never mind the testimonies,
never mind the emotions, don't be intimidated by lies, let
truth prevail, look at the bottom line and it will enable
you to "decide where truth lies."
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Whenever we make a decision in life, we must base it on
this principle. Our decision making must never be rash or
swayed by emotion, it must be based on truth. We must look
beyond the present in search for the bottom line. There is
a Latin term I studied a few years ago, used in law,
called Rationale Decidendi which means the
reason for the decision. So it follows, when we are
deciding on something important in life, we must first
establish the reason for our decision. It could be
marriage, a career move, a move to a new city or country
or even a change in churches, whatever the decision, it
must be based on truth and not fiction. Too many times, we
make the wrong move because we never took the time to
count the cost. Luke chapter 14, verses 28-30, say "For
which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not
down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have
sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid
the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that
behold it begin to mock him, saying, This man began to
build, and was not able to finish."
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| Psalm chapter 11 verse 3
raises a very valid question "If the foundations
be destroyed, what can the righteous do?"
Without truth we are nothing! In order to maintain some
form of integrity, we must have a bottom line. Your
bottom line is always your defining line and as a child
of God, this bottom line must embody the principles for
righteous living. In II Samuel chapter 11 we see how
David in his pursuit for Bath-sheba, sacrificed truth.
The word says "and he wrote a letter, saying,
Set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and
retire ye (withdraw your help) from him, that he
may be smitten and die". David did this to get
rid of Uriah the husband of Bath-sheba, the major
obstacle that stood between him and his evil motive to
conceal his wickedness. This is so typical of how we
sacrifice the truth, place everything that is Godly at
the forefront of the battle in our lives. We compromise
our integrity and good principles in pursuit of worldly
things, like riches and fame. "Decide where truth
is" in your life today!
Abraham is in the line of faith without a doubt, Hebrews
chapter 11 verses 8-10 says "By faith Abraham,
when he was called to go out into a place which he should
after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out,
not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the
land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in
tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of
the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations,
whose builder and maker is God." Here is a
man who decided where truth is, he based his decision on
this principle, he was not intimidated by fame or riches,
but he looked beyond these temporary things and the bottom
line is that truth defined his greatness! In Genesis
chapter 11, when the land was no longer able to sustain
both Abram and Lot, they had to separate. The decision
each of these men would take at this point was crucial: it
would determine their direction in life and ultimately
lead to their fate. The bible says "Lot chose him
all the plain of Jordan and journeyed East...Abram dwelled
in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of
the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom, but the men
of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord
exceedingly." Even great men of our Ages, like
Nelson Mandela and Dr Martin Luther King, refused to
compromise their beliefs, but their decisions and actions
where guided by the will of the people. In similar fashion
our decisions must be guided by the will of God, which is
truth, for our lives. They must never be swayed or
compromised by the doctrines of this world, but the
underlying or bottom line in our lives must always
determine our path.
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| The distinction between these
two men, Abram and Lot, is highlighted by the above
scripture. The former dwelt in Canaan, he chose truth,
while the latter looked for the easy option, the
"plain" of Jordan. The danger is evident! The
bad decision by Lot, left him vulnerable and susceptible
to the evil of Sodom. There have been numerous instances
in my life, when I have miscalculated, left God out of
the equation and made a decision that has left me open
to failure. So while governments spend millions on
bureaucracy and companies on management, to ensure they
maximise gain and minimise loss, we fail to realise that
as individuals we can also make decisions in life that
can have serious consequences. Salvation is not
something that we can take for granted or lightly, but
our choices will eventually determine our destination!
Individuals fail to heed the Word. The parable of the
House built on the Rock, is the simplest example of how
careful we must be in our everyday decisions.
Philippians chapter 2 and verse 12 says "work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling". |
It remains to be said then,
that we have the responsibility as Freewill Moral Agents
(Decision Makers) to base our decisions on Godly
principles. One of the greatest messages I ever heard,
entitled "Obedience is better than Sacrifice",
was moulded on this principle, which in turn continues
to shape may character and influence my decisions. It's
not strange then, that this truth was not imparted to me
in a massive auditorium, neither was it preached by a
popular or charismatic T.V evangelist, on the contrary
it was far from the glitz and glamour of both these
"common" attractions, it was in an "Old
fashioned Pentecostal Church" back in Bulawayo
Zimbabwe,
spoken by my old Pastor, a Bishop in the strictest sense
of the Word! The message was simple, yet potent, it was
adapted from I Samuel chapter 15 "Behold to obey
is better than sacrifice and to hearken (listen) than
the fat of rams".
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So as I look forward to
another week, I can grow in the confidence that the
bottom line of my life is truth and the knowledge that
every move I make, every step I take, will be guided by
this line. What is the bottom line in your life?
Have a grand week, I'll leave you with this thought:
"Nothing ever becomes real, until it's
experienced" - John Keats
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| A list of previous
submitted stories is available here! |
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