I am the way, the truth, and the life. (Jesus- John 14:6)
37Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." 38 Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"
Thoughts: What is truth? Pilate obviously did not know though the truest man in the universe was before him. The judge was not sure that there was such a thing as truth, and when that is the case, the giving into popular opinion becomes more important than doing what is just and right. If there is no real truth, justice becomes only popular opinion.
Tim Keller, in a recent sermon, had an interesting thought (that I paraphrase). He pointed out that we may not like a God who disagrees with us or is truth. So we start saying, "I don't like this about what God did." Or, "I don't like a God who gets angry with people, I only want a god who is positive and always says yes." Keller says we tend to think the same thing of human beings- we want them to be "yes men" or "yes women." When we get married we are surprised that sometimes people we love rebuke us or go against our will. But that is what it means to be human. It is the same with God. God has not only the right but ought to say no to us. "The Stepford Wives" had a chip put in them so they always said "yes" and were only agreeable to do whatever the men said. But in the end, these were just robots. It is hard to love an appliance. Love demands that we be free to say "no."
Truth is not whatever we want to make it to be. Truth is reality- and God is the deepest reality as the Creator of all- and Creator of all that truly is- the truth. Those who say that all religions are true in all parts are really saying there are no true religions. Those who say that we are better off without religion are saying the ultimate truths (and therefore really all truths) do not matter. The Romans were willing to incorporate all religions into there pantheon of gods. But the Christians (and the Jews) would have none of it, and were willing to die (like Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego in Daniel) that serve the false gods. The truth enables us to quit living in a selfish illusion world and start living in the world of reality where there is falsehood and truth- fake emotion and true love.
There are many politicians who say whatever their voters wish to hear is the truth. But there are rare jewels who will say and stick with their convictions. They may not be elected down here- but they will be awarded in the next life. In the meantime, we are called to speak the truth in love.
Prayer: Lord, give me grace when others disagree with me. Give me grace to conform to your will even if it is hard for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment