April 22
“… I am the way and the truth and the life.” (Jesus; John 14:6)
When we are talking about truth, we should point out the obvious…
No one purposely believes a lie. We all think what we think, do what we do, and choose what we choose, based upon what we believe to be true.
For example, someone who believes that abortion is right… and someone who believes it is wrong, are both committed to their subsequent actions, because they believe that they are based upon truth. Both sides of this issue are staunchly adamant that what they believe is right and true.
The real question is: how do we determine if what we believe is actually true?
This is where it gets complicated… and simple, all at the same time.
Our choices in life get complicated because we tend to forget one very essential thing… truth must exist beyond ourselves. If there is any way for us to manipulate truth to fit our own wants and desires, then it cannot be truth. Truth is not human wisdom, or progressive thinking, or even what we want it to be. Truth stands alone. And truth sets the standard for us – we do not (can not) set the standard for truth.
If we go back to our analogy from yesterday… builders depend on means of accuracy that are beyond their own knowledge and expertise. They use things like plumb lines, levels, and tape measures to assure the accuracy of what they are building. These tools are essential to what they are doing, because they provide a standard of accuracy that makes everything fit together perfectly.
But, if their levels are all warped… if their tape measures are missing some numbers… their standards of accuracy are no longer perfect. Their readings become misleading, because they are not based upon perfection. The source of accuracy must be perfect, or it is of no practical use at all.
For our culture, “truth” gets complicated because we are constantly trying to warp the level, or mess with the numbers, to make everything line up with what we want it to be. We are trying to change our standards of truth – or eliminate them altogether – and we think we are pretty smart for doing so. But if a builder does not build a house to perfect standards, that builder is not smart… he is foolish – and others are likely to pay the price for his folly.
This is where truth gets simple… We do not have to try and figure things out, or try to manipulate our standards, to live by what is true. We have a Creator Who has graciously given us all the truth we need. He exists beyond us. He is perfect. His thoughts are always one hundred percent right. And He has never changed throughout His eternal existence.
And, oh yeah… He actually came to visit us, and tell us the truth. He was so right, and pure, and accurate, and perfect… that He was actually “the way, the TRUTH, and the life.”
When it comes to matters of truth, we simply must begin with the One Who is true and perfect in every way.
Prayer focus: God, help me to constantly seek to live by what is truth.
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