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Truth's Presentation
Habakkuk 2:2-3
"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."
Truth should be the primary focus of every person. A church should keep its focus on truth. A Christian should keep their focus on truth. A preacher should keep his focus on truth. A teacher should keep their focus on truth. Truth should be your focus, for it will be your guide to true success. Yet, how truth is presented is very important. If truth is presented in a wrong manner, then there will be some who will not listen or follow it. In the verses above, God shows us how to present truth.
First, truth must be presented in a plain manner. I fear we live in a day when those who present truth try to make it complicated to the hearer. God commanded Habakkuk to "make it plain." God felt that it was important for truth to be presented in a plain manner so that the hearer could understand the truth and have no excuse as to why they did not obey it.
Preacher, when you present truth, present it in a plain manner. Your purpose in presenting truth is not to impress people with your intellect. When Jesus taught truth, He taught it in such a way that the common person could understand it. Every teacher should present truth so that it is plain and easy to understand. Every parent should present truth to their children in a plain manner so that they will understand what is expected of them. Be careful about making truth complicated and difficult to understand, the purpose of presenting truth is so that the hearer can understand it.
Second, truth should be presented in such a manner that the hearer will run. Truth presented in a plain manner will motivate the hearer to run. Notice, God wants truth presented so the receiver of truth will run and not walk. Don't water down truth with political correctness so as to cause the receiver of truth to only walk in their service to God. It is not a time to walk in God's service, it is a time to run and get truth out as quickly as we can. In other words, don't water down truth to help appease the conscience of those who serve God in a half-hearted manner. Present it to motivate them to do more for God.
Last, present truth with patience. Let the hearer of truth realize that its results rarely come immediately. Notice in the verse above, when talking about truth God said, "...though it tarry, wait for it..." People must realize that the result of following truth will take time to see. Let the hearer of truth understand that they must be patient with truth and not give up on it. Following truth pays off if people will be patient with it.
As the hearer of truth, be sure that you listen intently when it is presented so that you will run and do more for God. As you present truth, make it as plain as you can so that the common person can understand, run with it and be patient while running to see its results.