Tell the Truth and Take the Heat

Tell the Truth and Take the Heat

Under pressure don't bend or collapse. If you know its right, stick with it. Take the heat. 

Micaiah, son of Imla, a contemporary of Elijah, shows up for one recorded Bible episode. Unlike Elijah who gets lots of ink, Micaiah only makes a brief debut in Scriptures but what an impressive performance in 1 Kings 22. The story is retold in 2 Chronicles 18. 

Micaiah had been summoned to stand before two monarchs. Aides to the kings briefed Micaiah:  "Now Micaiah, 400 prophets have already come before King Ahab and King Jehoshaphat and told them to proceed with war. Yes, you heard right - 400 of them. You are being brought in for a 2nd opinion. We want you to say 'yes' to King Ahab too. We want it to be unanimous! Be sure to tell the king what he wants to hear." 

Talk about pressure!!  The King wants to hear 'yes'. Micaiah already had run-ins with King Ahab and the fact was, Ahab hated Micaiah for his straightforward messages from the Lord. And 400 prophets had already told him what he wanted to hear.  Now Micaiah, what's your response? All eyes are on you! Your life is on the line.

Even when you know there is extreme risk to you personally if you tell the truth, yet there is something satisfying and settling when you know you have told the truth without doctoring it up or watering it down.

Micaiah's simple response was:

"As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak."

(2 Chronicles 18:13)

Now, that's backbone! Sure, they struck him on the cheek and locked him up in prison. Yes, they half starved him to death and gave him foul water and rotten bread. But his integrity was intact. His conscience was clear. He had nothing he had to confess to the Lord after the meeting with the kings was over. He did the right thing, he told the truth. Later on, he was proven right. 

As a Christian, isn't it your desire to always speak the truth and to say what God wants you to say? Often the pressure is on to say what others want us to say and do what others want us to do.

I think Micaiah would text us today from the other side of time a message like this: "It's easier to sleep on a prison cot with a clear conscience than it is with a bad conscience on a top-of-the-line orthopedic mattress." 

Dear Child of God, are you wondering if you should tell the truth about some issue today? The One who said: "I am The Truth" loves the truth. Tell the truth for His sake. You will need wisdom as to the manner in which you deliver the truthful message and you will need a humble spirit to tell it - but be sure to tell the truth.

Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.

Warmly in Christ

Peter Ramsay

peter@heaven4sure.com