I’m sure every parent has found themselves in a position of deciding which child is telling the truth when both deny guilt in the midst of trouble. Some know their children so well that they know the truth before either party begins to speak! In a court of law, the magistrate has a difficult task in weighing up all the facts as presented, before passing judgment. The outcome of a case can rest solely on the expertise (or incompetency) of the defense lawyer.
In the Bible we read of a similar situation of trying to discern the truth in the midst of many opposing voices. One of the most profound statements during Jesus’ life was when He stood on trial before Pontius Pilate. When questioned, Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world; that He was born to testify to the truth and those who love the truth will recognize that what He was saying was true. Pilate’s response was, “What is truth?” One cannot say definitively what Pilate meant by his question, but the sobering fact is that Truth was literally staring him in the face.
As a Christian I have come to respect and love the truth so much more than I did before knowing God. I realize that we can often be misunderstood due to a variety of factors-- from external appearances or subtle prejudices that may exist to a simple lack of information or miscommunication. Thankfully, we do not have to defend ourselves before God as He sees all and knows all things. We are however, called to a higher level of accountability to seek the truth, to walk in integrity, and to love and forgive in the face of conflict. Having the assurance that the Spirit of Truth resides in us gives us a measure of faith for the journey and peace to trust in Him alone. Our responsibility is to keep our internal filters clear so we can hear Him without prejudice. There is only one truth and it never changes. In repentance we remain humble; in humility we remain teachable. It is in this posture that we will indeed find the truth and will remain free.
In the Bible we read of a similar situation of trying to discern the truth in the midst of many opposing voices. One of the most profound statements during Jesus’ life was when He stood on trial before Pontius Pilate. When questioned, Jesus said that His kingdom was not of this world; that He was born to testify to the truth and those who love the truth will recognize that what He was saying was true. Pilate’s response was, “What is truth?” One cannot say definitively what Pilate meant by his question, but the sobering fact is that Truth was literally staring him in the face.
As a Christian I have come to respect and love the truth so much more than I did before knowing God. I realize that we can often be misunderstood due to a variety of factors-- from external appearances or subtle prejudices that may exist to a simple lack of information or miscommunication. Thankfully, we do not have to defend ourselves before God as He sees all and knows all things. We are however, called to a higher level of accountability to seek the truth, to walk in integrity, and to love and forgive in the face of conflict. Having the assurance that the Spirit of Truth resides in us gives us a measure of faith for the journey and peace to trust in Him alone. Our responsibility is to keep our internal filters clear so we can hear Him without prejudice. There is only one truth and it never changes. In repentance we remain humble; in humility we remain teachable. It is in this posture that we will indeed find the truth and will remain free.
RSS Feed