Dr. James L. Snyder
Now that we have gotten past the recent elections, we can get back to life as normal. Of course, I am not sure what “normal” really means. One man’s “normal” is another man’s “over the cliff.”
I am not quite sure I am normal and I fear bringing this query to the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. My fear is that she will tell me the truth. You know what we Americans think about the truth.
There was a time when truth was a pretty stable thing. There were certain things that were absolute truth and no if’s, and’s or but’s about it. Those were the good old days.
Nowadays truth is not as clear as it once was. What was true in “the day,” is now altogether a different matter. Being the simpleminded man that I am, it is very hard for me to keep up with all of this nonsense. I mean, after all, how do you know what is true if it changes all the time? I think if it is true, it is always true. That only beguiles my age.
If truth is as slippery as some people are indicating, how do I know what is true today? It does not matter what was true yesterday. That was yesterday. Today is a new day and henceforth, what was true yesterday is not true today. To make matters even more confusing, what is true today will not be true tomorrow.
I believe the reason I am getting bald on the top is that I am scratching my head too much lately. I cannot seem to make heads or tails out of all the nonsense transpiring today as truth. How do people keep up and know what is really true?
If I plan to live quite a few more years, I am going to have to get a handle on this very thing. I am not quite sure where to go. Something has to be done so that I can figure out day by day what is really true.
I shared my dilemma with my better half and as is usually the situation, she came up with a brilliant answer. Please, do not let her know I said that. She might get a big head and we cannot afford to buy a whole new set of hats.
She simply said, “Why don’t you do what the politicians do?”
I did not quite know what she was getting at, so I inquired further.
“Silly,” her pet name for Yours Truly, “the politicians always take a poll before they decide on anything.”
It dawned on me like a morning in June. Of course. Whenever a politician wants to know what truth is flying on any given day, he reverts to taking a poll. Out of that poll, he can know what the truth is for that day. Amazing.
I need to learn some lessons from today’s politician.
The first thing I need to understand from a politician’s point of view is, “What I am saying at the time is not necessarily what I mean.”
This is convenient and frees me up to say things I normally might put a check on. The check’s in the mail and I now am free to say whatever is on my mind at the moment. The first thing I need to do is find out what is on the mind of the people I am talking to. Whatever is on their mind is exactly what is on my mind.
This has such a freeing aspect to it.
Another thing from a politician’s viewpoint is, “What I said yesterday doesn’t count today.” This also is from the polling machine. The amazing thing about most people is they do not remember what was said yesterday. A very poor politician reminds people of what they said yesterday. A politician needs to tell them what he is saying today. Because today’s truth is today’s truth. No need to worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will be reflected by tomorrow’s polling.
This is very important because it reduces the necessity to use any sort of memory whatsoever. Because what I said yesterday does not really matter today. I do not have to remember what I said yesterday. If I want to know what I said yesterday, I need only take another poll today and that settles the matter.
Perhaps the most important view from a politician is, “Tomorrow may never come.” I do not have to worry that what I am saying today will catch up with me tomorrow, for the simple reason tomorrow may never come. If it does come, so what. I will take a poll tomorrow to find out what I need to say tomorrow.
I think there is something to this polling mechanism. I do not have to worry about anything; all I need to do is just take another poll. I know it may get a little confusing, but I clear up that confusion by taking another poll. It is always the last poll that really counts.
Thankfully, when it comes to God, truth does not change from one day to the next. What is true today was true yesterday and will be true tomorrow. You can count on that.
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8 KJV).
I can always count on God being true to His Word because God never changes.
Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, PO Box 831313, Ocala, FL 34483. He lives with his wife, Martha, in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 1-866-552-2543 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. His web site is www.jamessnyderministries.com.
