What is TRUTH?? (Part 1)

(Another post from the past! In our Jesus Discovery Group, we are currently discussing "Grace and Truth" [John 1:14-18]. "[Jesus] came from the Father, full of grace and truth." The OT equivalent is "Mercy and Truth", so I thought I'd share these blog posts which I posted in August 07. I might learn something, too!! :-) )

The famous words of Pontius Pilate when Jesus was brought to him for questioning!

And today, we often ask the same. How can we know what is really true? And hey, does it really matter to me? Does it matter what I believe?… you may ask.

And that seems to be the trend. Everyone can live by your own truth… do what feels right! We can believe what we like, as long as you are sincere. Just as long as we don’t hurt anyone.

But is it right?

Lets say we took that same attitude in other areas of life. Take time for example! You ask, “Do you have the right (true) time?” And the response you’d get back, would be something like this: “Oh, time? It’s really whatever time you want it to be. Just live by your own time.”

Can you imagine what chaos that would cause in the world?

But thankfully for time, we DO have a standard, GMT or UTC, and the rest of the world set their clocks to that. If you have a schedule to keep, you will frequently check that the time on your watch is right. For some, even five minutes late could be fatal, like picking up your little kids off the school bus. How important is it to be there on time for them?… especially if they have to cross the road. And catching planes or trains, the consequences of missing that flight or train could end up with one being left stranded.

So, with time, we definitely need a standard… an ABSOLUTE to base our truth about time on.

And when you think about it, all time is based on the sun, moon and the rotation of the earth. God has set those things, as it were, in concrete, never to be altered. And the timing is SO precise, that if the earth were to slow down or speed up the smallest fraction, it would be catastrophic for the whole universe. God has created it like that for us, so that the earth could maintain life. On no other planet could such life, or any life, exist.

And then, even a tribe in the remotest jungle, would use the sun for its standard of time. Their whole lifestyle would be dependent on the sun and the moon. And forget about man, and look at creation. All animal life and plant life depend on the sun for their existence.

Check out what God’s word says:

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.
God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.
It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding.
It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.
The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end.
Nothing can hide from its heat.
The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” (Psalm 19:1-7, NLT)

“You made the moon to mark the seasons, and the sun knows when to set.
You send the darkness, and it becomes night, when all the forest animals prowl about.
Then the young lions roar for their prey, stalking the food provided by God.
At dawn they slink back into their dens to rest.
Then people go off to their work, where they labor until evening.”
(Psalm 104:19-23, NLT)

So when we look at God’s amazing creation, we cannot help but believe in an absolute truth… or can we?….

“But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. “Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.” (Romans 1:18-23, NLT)

I think I’ll leave it there for now. More thoughts about ABSOLUTES to come… stay posted!!!