And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. – John 8:32 NKJV. 

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14 NKJV. 

But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. – John 8:40 NKJV. 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:6 NKJV. 

The Independent Perse School in Cambridge England is teaching students how to be “artful dodgers.” When a student happens to commit a violation of the school rules they are given ten seconds to explain themselves to avoid punishment. Ed Elliott, head of the school, explained that “out and out falseness” is not allowed although “white lies” might be allowed. Elliott says, “Getting children to talk their way out of minor misdemeanors is a wonderful way of encouraging such creativity and fostering good communication skills.” Sam Leith who is a rhetoric expert and author says, “You can see this being a really important life skill and actually politicians, some of them, are the absolute straight arrow, but often the ones who get further are the artful dodgers.” (BBC 11.19.12; The Huffington Post 11.24.12) 

In our current political climate it is difficult at times to discern the truth, because the truth is that our political candidates are artful dodgers. However, there is a problem that has created this deceitful political climate, and that is our desire to only hear what we want to hear. Do we want to know the truth? Do we really want to hear the truth? If a candidate tells you the truth are you offended? Jesus told the Jews the truth, and they just wanted to kill Him. Instead of pleading with Pilate to release Jesus, instead they shouted for Pilate to release a murderer (Matthew 27:20). Then, they shouted about Jesus to Pilate (Matthew 27:22-23), “Let Him be crucified” “Let Him be crucified” and Jesus was crucified. But there is a strange thing about truth, truth refuses to die. Jesus, the Truth, rose again on the third day! 

Today in the United States each of us has our own idea about truth. We only want to hear our version of the truth as we have become artful listeners. We stuff our ears and turn the channel if someone actually dares to speak truth. It is sad to think that the political candidate who actually wins the election may be the one who has most successfully artfully dodged the truth. 

Our duty as Christians in this election and in life is to seek the Truth, to desire the Truth, to pray for the Truth to be revealed, and that we might recognize it. Will you do that? Will you pray for the Truth to be revealed, and that you will recognize it, and receive it?