After His ascension into Heaven, Jesus gave to John the Revelator specific information to be given to believers till the close of earth’s history. To the church of Laodicea - that period of time known as the “Judgment of the people,” Christ has a specific message. Being the “wonderful Counselor” that He is (Isaiah 9:6), He brings us perfect advice. But first we must be prepared to listen. There is a basic premise in successful business practice: “Honesty is the best policy.” Honesty and integrity are foundational principles in the Christian life as well, for their divine Author is none other than He who clearly identifies Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6).

“Christ, His character and work, is the center and circumference of all truth, He is the chain upon which the jewels of doctrine are linked. In Him is found the complete system of truth.”1

“All true believers center in Christ, their character is irradiated by Christ; all meet in Christ, and circulate about Christ. Truth comes from Heaven to purify and cleanse the human agent from every moral defilement. It leads to benevolent action, to kind, tender, thoughtful love toward the needy, the distressed, the suffering. This is practical obedience to the words of Christ.”2

As we acknowledge the flawless perfection of the glorious system of Heaven-sent truth, there is another aspect of truth we must face: The truth about ourselves.

In diagnosing physical disease, modern technology enlists the help of blood tests, x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, CT scans, and so on to penetrate and unveil the depths of the human organism in order to evaluate properly its real condition and recommend appropriate treatment, if needed. In today’s information age, modern medicine is reluctant to assume anything at face value, since many important factors may be looming beneath the surface. No thorough, competent physician wants to risk overlooking key hidden factors which could cost a life.

Seeing ourselves as we really are is more complicated than most people may realize. When you think about it, not one of us has ever even seen our own face. The closest we can come is by viewing a mere reflection in a mirror. And our spiritual heart? Oh, that is much deeper yet! The Scripture tells us plainly that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Just as doctors rely on technology to help them see things more clearly, we need God’s help to see our heart. “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings” (verse 10). In fact, it is especially valuable because our Creator will tell us the truth - the whole truth, the pure truth, and nothing but the truth. Like a penetrating surgeon’s knife, sometimes the truth hurts. But it is specially designed to work for good, to promote life.

So when the True Witness speaks the truth to us, we need to listen. “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).