If humans can avoid what is obviously true, consider how easy it is to avoid what is less obviously true. We can easily deny a truth that is lurking behind our actions or the actions of those around us. Even more, we can deny truths about our heart. It is easy to avoid the truth about our motives and attitudes just by not gazing on our heart. Worse still is the problem of hidden corruption that we can’t find even with constant self-reflection. Our corruption is so deep and immense that if God showed it all to us at one time I suspect we would immediately plunge into depression and despair. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9, NIV). God wants us to see the truth about ourselves because the truth will set us free. He doesn’t require us to see all of our corruption at once, just what we need for the time being.
Honesty is woven throughout the Spiritual life and along with openness is one of the two foundations of all growth. Honesty opens the door to life and dishonesty closes it. You cannot travel the road to victory in an area of your life if the way is blocked by dishonesty.
Without honesty you will not be able to “put off your old self” (Eph. 4:22, ESV) because you will avoid seeing it. How will you put off more of the old self if you are not willing to see the next piece of it? How will you grow in general if you don’t recognize the fears behind dishonesty and replace the fear with faith? How will God speak to you in Scripture if you consistently ignore the passages that do not fit with your views or your teacher’s views? How will you grow in loving others if you are not honest about your impact on others?
If we love truth then we will be receptive to facts and evidence that contradict our current viewpoint. If we are not willing to reconsider our viewpoint in the face of substantial evidence to the contrary, then are we not just clinging to our own bias and no longer seeking truth? A love of honesty together with a humble heart should make us open to uncomfortable evidence. We will honor God with our mind and “listen to advice” (Prov. 19:20, ESV) and be “open to reason’ (James 3:17, ESV) so that we are not just opinionated souls who don’t want to face reality.
