Identifying the Truth

Recently, a woman sent some rocks to school with her daughter for me to identify.  She said these rocks had been in her family for a long time and asked if I would ensure the students didn't damage them.  The background information was interesting and it was obvious that they had been passed down through three generations.  There wasn't an expectation of value, just the desire to know a little more.  The first was a fairly common rock which was a type of mica schist.  The other two were pieces of glass slag from a glass factory.  I wondered how she would take the news.  Would she be grateful at knowing or irritated that I called her heirlooms "glass leftovers?"  Or would she possibly reject my identification and hold to a more precious interpretation?

            We run into the same scenario when we answer questions about religions and teachings not found in the Bible.  Most people will experience some degree of irritation at having their beliefs held up to the light of God's word.  Some will respond in greater anger and still others may completely reject what they hear and can even read for themselves.  Unfortunately, because we are messengers of God's word many will describe the faithful Christian as "mean-spirited" or "dogmatic."  Even though to both parties it is a personal matter, we should keep our duties in perspective. 

Our responsibility is to lovingly teach the truth.  It is the other person's responsibility to accept the truth.  We will then rejoice with those who gratefully embrace the plan of God.  Keep in mind the words of Jesus, "He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me," Luke 10:16.