The Truth about Truth

In our society and many others, it seems that "truth" has become a relative issue. I suspect it is never more apparent than during a political season. However, the "Truth" of the gospel is never relative.

One of the oft quoted verses from the Bible are the words of Pilate when he says to Jesus, "What is truth (John 18:38)?" Now I am not certain whether Pilate was being sarcastic or he was asking with some level of sincerity. That is not necessarily the issue. What is the issue, is what prompted the question. It comes as a result of this statement by Jesus

You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world -- to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice (18:37).

There are a couple of facts that stand out in that statement. 1) Jesus came not to be a king, rather to be a witness to the truth. 2) Those who either were predestined to hear it, or those who have committed their lives as followers of Christ, listen because what they hear (and see) is truth.

This does not mean that truth is merely the absence of a lie, or strictly moral truth. What it means is this truth is absolute and eternal. This truth, in Christ, is a fleshing out of life the way God intended it to be - in right relationship to Him.

When Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life..." He was saying something more than a statement of exclusivity. He was proclaiming that his way was God's way, his truth was God's truth and his life was God's intended life for mankind. The access to and fulfillment of that is via Christ to God. That is not as much exclusivity, as it is simply truth.

Truth can be sought in a variety of ways. But the truth most people seek is not really truth - it is simply a way of trying to get some peace, purpose and satisfaction in their life. To make sense of things that make no sense.  It is simply a magnification of what's-in-it-for-me.

The primary reason most people are put off by Christ - besides encountering too many hypocrites - is that he calls them to TRUTH. To release the living of a lie and embrace the truth of God. Truth that calls one to sacrifice not self-indulgence. Truth that calls to serving, not being served. Truth that calls to love not manipulation. Truth that yields to God.  That is the truth about truth.

That truth is not fashionable nor comfortable. I struggle with it every day, sometimes every hour. Nevertheless, that is the truth I am called to in Christ and through Christ.