The question of truth is always on my mind. I often ask myself, “what is the truth in this situation? what is the truth in the words said by another?” Truth is a thing so sought after and hungered for. I crave truth. One of my favorite phrases in scripture is, “I tell you the truth.” Gosh, how powerful are those words.
One thing I have been thinking about is how often I find myself, as well as others, believing so quickly in the negative words that are spoken to them. How often do we consider the source of those words? How often do we give weight to words from a person who does not know us, our process of life, or who we are. Yet, we give their words weight. Why are we so quick to believe in words that speak against who we are?
These thoughts and questions remind me of a conversation that Jesus and Pilate had before Jesus was crucified. Pilate is questioning Jesus and asks him if he is a king. Jesus responds by saying, ” you are right in saying I am a king. In fact it was for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” Pilate responds…”what is truth?”
We ask the same question of what is truth? Jesus is the truth. What he thinks about you and me is the voice that matters; is the voice that should hold the most weight. The people we know and trust to be on that same side of truth, their words should hold weight in our lives.
One way I thought about his words and thoughts for me came from 1 John 1:1. “1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.” I spent time journaling out those individal pieces of knowing him as truth.
So this is my challenge to you. I would love to hear about it.
How have you seen him as truth?
How have you heard him as truth?
How has he revealed himself as truth to you through touch?
i desire truth in the innermost parts. integrity is such a strong personal value to me. it is often what draws me to a person… or turns me off from them.
i’ve so loved the way you’ve given me new eyes to see I John 1:1…
i’ve heard Him through the still small voice in my heart and in His Word that comes alive and leaps off the page. i’ve heard him in the harmony of african voices, and in the sounds of a hippo in the water. i’ve heard Him loud and clear through the whispers of a friend on a bathroom floor.
i’ve seen Him in blind eyes opened, miraculous provision, and much-needed rain. i’ve seen Him in a thousand sunsets and in the faces of those choosing to become Christ-followers. i’ve beheld Him in the vast expanse of african sky, in the rushing waters of victoria falls, and in herds of black-faced sheep. i’ve seen Him in a smile that melts my heart.
my hands have touched Him in the frail woman dying of AIDS, in generous friends who sacrifice for Him to be made known in africa. i’ve felt Him in long tight hugs from someone i love, and i’ve felt Him in sweet moments of worship as i sing like i really can. i’ve touched Him in the least of these as well as the greatest of these. my hands have touched Him through a webcam…
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[i love getting to see the process from raw to cooked. thank you, my sweetest friend, just for you.]
Thank you my faithful friend, for always telling me your thoughts and heart. i really appreciate your thoughts and what you have to say. I see that list in you as we have been talking. He is seen in you.
what is Truth? that is the question?
I often think we mistake truth with honesty. Though they are related -they are not the same thing. We long for gentle honesty given with love from our friends, family, neighbors, our govt.,…
We must be careful claiming it is TRUTH- as we know truth is often delivered with opinion as it was seen thru the eye of the beholder. So much of history taught to us as truth was only true for one side of the struggle. What I see and report back is honest but not always the truth as you say- the words some say to us maybe their opinion but not the truth since they do not know the whole story. Only one has the BIG picture and knows the whole story and our hearts far better than we know ourselves. Yes we lie to ourselves all the time and claim it as truth.
I have experienced truth in the rising and setting of the sun each day. In the honest sharing of a friend not claiming to have answers only questions. In the simplicity of silence and stillness. In the changing of the seasons. In God’s love for me just as I am. In forgiveness. In brokenness and struggle. In seeing the perserverance of people living and dieing in extreme poverty. Truth seems to come thru weakness and powerlessness not in strength and assurance.
Millie! i love your honesty!! thank you for your thoughts. I miss walking around Wash with you, having these very conversations. Thank you for your thoughts. There is a definite difference in honesty and truth. We can always tell people what they want to hear, that does not make it truth. I pray that you hear his truth for you. you have some great stories of truth and knowing and seeing his truth. Thanks for those!
i love millie’s distinction between honesty and truth. mmmm…
i’m grateful that you look to see.
“How have you seen him as truth? How have you heard him as truth? How has he revealed himself as truth to you through touch?”
The most memorable example happened after I had lost a friend to suicide, in part because she had been sexually abused as a child, and discovered that someone I knew had been accused of rape and molestation.
I asked God, “What do I do?” knowing, full well, that revenge is a sin–especially when I did not know for sure if the man was even guilty. But grief is infuriating.
I wondered about it for a while then sat down and opened my Bible. Matthew 5 appeared. I saw the Beattitudes, but for the first time in my life I felt as if I finally understood them.
And that was a very rare moment when I had sensed God personally.
You can read the end result here:
http://thenoreaster.wordpress.com/2007/11/26/when-lightning-strikes/
The concept of truth can be made very simple. We can never be absolutely positive that something is true. No matter what. How do you know that a chair is there? How do you know that it isn’t just an illusion created by your mind?
The answer is that you don’t.
Or a more popular topic, God’s existence. Let’s face it, it’s unprovable. You can’t show someone else that God exists by showing them proof – cause there is no unbiased and objective proof (from a historians viewpoint, the Bible is clearly not unbiased). That is why belief and faith is so important. Because even though you can’t prove God’s existence, you may very well know that God does exist anyway.
Nicely said about faith. Faith vs. proof. I would rather believe in a God that is so big and illogical that my brain cannot place him in a logical, provable box. that is a life long journey of believing.