To Tell the Truth

I have been watching my favorite all-time show, 24.  This show is very violent at times, but always raises several questions about the state of the world.  This season, is the final one for the show, so they are pulling out all the stops.  It is a show about  the country's leading (in my opinion) go-to guy and his mission to keep people accountable for their actions and to get to the truth.  He wants those who are wrong and have done evil to pay for their sins. 

This year, the President has chosen to cover-up several assassinations to "better" her legacy in a peace treaty that is about to be signed.  She asked Jack (the go-to guy) to help keep people safe.  When he finds out what has happened and what is going on, he goes rogue.  He wants the President and everyone else to tell the truth.  He goes to great lengths to make sure the truth comes out.  There are three shows left and I am left with several questions.  Will he succeed?  Will others think his fight for the truth is noble and they turn back toward doing the right thing? 

This makes me wonder, to what extent will we go to "hide" the truth?  Will you cover up something that is really the truth to make you seem like a better person?  Will you cover up the truth to make someone feel better?    John 8:31-32 says, So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."  

In Genesis, the story of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers has a lot of truths covered up.  The brothers told their father that they found Joseph's coat bloody and torn.  They actually sold him into slavery.  They kept the lying up for a lot of years.  Lies like this would eat away at me.  The hard part in this story is that we can see that God had a plan for it all along.  It doesn't mean we should go out and lie, thinking God will take care of it.  We should be better than that. We should accept our sin, ask for forgiveness of all that it hurt, and forgive ourselves.  As in the tv show, the truth may hurt, but at least knowing the truth can ease the pain and the healing can begin.