The Ruler

I used to love my little six inch ruler.
In fact, the ruler I had when I was a girl, is in my desk drawer in the kitchen.
It is nothing fancy.
I have no idea why I kept it all these years.

I have a twelve inch ruler as well in the same drawer.
That was a later purchase.
I probably bought that for my children.
That twelve inch ruler is made of wood with a metal edge.

Maybe I liked my six inch ruler because it fit in my pencil case.
My twelve inch ruler had to be kept in a binder.
My six inch ruler could keep my place in a book.
My six inch ruler was easy to maneuver when I was measuring lines or drawing them.

I could write my name on the back of the wooden twelve inch ruler I had in school.
In fact, I could make a few stars and designs if I was so inclined.
My six inch ruler is made of plastic.
Ink never seemed to stay on the back of that ruler; I tried.

I remember when I discovered that my ruler could be used as a straight edge.
I could fold a piece of paper and hold the ruler against the crease.
I was able to rip the paper perfectly at the fold.
If scissors were not nearby, I was still able to cut the paper perfectly in half.

I never enjoyed the other side of the ruler.
I could turn my ruler the other way and measure things in metric measurements.
Perhaps it was the conversion that bothered me.
Perhaps if was just that I was so used to measuring in inches and liked it that way.

There was comfort in the fact that my little ruler was six inches.
I did not have to worry that it would be six inches one day and five inches the next.
I could count on it.
My ruler never changed.

I remember talking to a group of young mothers at a church years ago.
The person, who asked me to speak, told me a little bit about the group before I began.
I just want to let you know that many of them struggle with absolute Truth, she warned me.
It was an interesting thing to tell me before I began to speak.

I remember getting up in front of them and looking at their faces.
I had no idea which women struggled with the concept of absolute truth.
I remember praying a shooting arrow prayer before I began.
I took a deep breath.

How many of you helped your children with their math homework last night? I asked.
Many of their hands went up.
Did 2 + 2 = 4? I asked them.
They shook their heads and looked at each other with a puzzled expression.

Did 5 + 5 = 10? I continued.
More heads nodded.
The answer never changes, I stated.
There is an absolute answer to those math problems.

I could see that some of the women were making a connection.
There is such a thing as absolute Truth and it can be known, I told them.
Truth is a Person named Jesus: the Way, the Truth, and the Life, I went on.
Truth can be known through God’s Word.

I began the Bible lesson I planned to teach them.
I first established that Truth can be known.
With God’s help, I expounded on that Truth.
I pray that even to this day, those simple math problems come to mind for those women.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
(2 Timothy 3:14-17)

God’s Word is absolutely true.
God’s Truth, as told in His Word, can be known.
God’s Word never changes.
God’s Word is inspired, infallible, and inerrant.

Truth can be known.
We may not like the Truth that is in God’s Word but that does not change the fact that it is true.
God’s Truth is not debatable.
We accept the answers to simple math problems, why do we struggle with Truth?

Like my ruler, God’s Word is the standard by which we measure our lives.
God’s Truth is the straight edge that cuts perfectly through our arguments.
Truth can be known.
Two plus two still equals four.

 

2 responses to “The Ruler”

1. My daughter’s Christian School teacher years ago said she likes math because two plus two will always equal four and God never changes either. That thought made me happy

   Reply

   • Paula,
     How wonderful that your daughter’s teacher used the same logic to explain God and absolute Truth.
     Gina

     Reply