NEVER POPULAR: Truth!

Truth ... And Popularity
Were Standing Before The Church!
Truth Was Standing By Himself
Off To The Right!
Popularity Looked At Him Like He Was Lurch!

There's A Story To Tell ...

Back In The Beginning
Truth Was King
Master Of Everything
Beloved Of The Brethren
Known Always For Saying 
Doing
Being
The Right Thing!

Truth Wasn't Always Convenient
But
Truth Always Was ... Truthful
Pointed
Direct
Faithful
Blessed
A Spiritual Success
At Least That Was Until
Good Old Popularity Always New
Always Current
Always Suave
Always Convenient
Blase
Totally Incapable Of
Holding The Fine Line
Willing Always To Treat With Those Brethren
Who Loved Broad Fuzzy Movable
Transient Transferable Technicolor
Inebriated Easily Repurposed ... Things!

Popularity Was A Pissant
And
Present 
Public
Pervasive
Persuasive 
Precious Truth Always Made Him Squirm!

Truth Is The Solid Rock:
Not Rock-Hard Cement!
Truth Is The Rock Of Ages 
By The Lord God Almighty Sown!

Ah, Well ...

The Great Day Of Decision
Had Arrived Without Fanfare
And
This Is The Day Heretofore Spoken Of
When Truth Stood Alone
His Continuing Presence In The Church
A Thing Up In The Air!

Popularity Was In His Glee!
He Had Also Been In His Cups
Aka He Was Drunk As A Skunk
And
He Thought Nothing Of It
Cared Not For Those Insular Few
Who Thought Him De Trop
Even Dissolute
And
He Was Pumping His Fists
Occasionally Thumping His Pigeon Chest
Ever Exposing His Bonafides
Aka His Jewels Gained By Bribes
And Tortured Beliefs
And
He Knew By The Twinging Of
His Left Big Toe In His Gucci Loafer
That He Was The Man Of The Hour!
With Truth
He Was Finally Settling The Score!
At His Word
Truth Will Be Put Out The Door!

He Had Repeatedly Asked Truth
To Fornicate With Him
But, Truth 
Being Always Truthful
Had Spurned His Advances
Rejected His Entreaties
Returned His Gifts
Blocked His Phone Number
Would Not Entertain His Worldly "Friend" Requests
And
Chose, Instead
To Stick Close To The Forever Friend!

Popularity Did Not Know 
How To Take "No!" For An Answer
So He Had Set Up Things In The Assembly
To Bring Cutting Present Truth To A Sticky End:
Doubt And Disbelief
Gainsaying And Carnality
Were His Choicest Henchmen!

Oh, What A Tangled Web We Weave

When We Practice To Deceive!

Facts Are Firm ...

Popularity Does Not Make One Good Or Right
And
Truth Does Not Make One Bad Or Wrong
But
Popularity 
Built On "Convenient" Truth
Is
Sure To Make One's Life A Blight!

The Blaze Of Glory ...

Present Truth ... Plain Truth
Stood Still In The Light Of Life
And
Watched As Popularity
- Present Popularity -
The Chosen Flavor Of The Month
Was Raised Up 
And
Then Ignominiously Cast Down
As The Thing Not Current
Not Viable
Not Passable
For That Time Of Life!
Present Popularity Had Been Built On Lies!
Known Lies!

The End Result Of It All ...

Unchained
Unfettered
Unchanging
Unaffected
Unfailing
Unpolished
Unspun
Uncolored
And
Unflinching
Truth Remained ... Resolute
Tall And Strong
On Solid Ground!

As For That One Called Popularity
He Was Put Outside
- No Friends -
On The Rubbish Heap Of Convenience
To Die!
Oh, How He Burned!

There Is No Eternal Profit In Popularity!

Truth Always Saves!