What Is Truth?
I looked up the word ‘truth’ both in the dictionary and in a thesaurus. My thesaurus brought up the words “fact, reality, certainty” among others. The Encarta dictionary defines truth as “the thing that corresponds to fact or reality.”
I can’t count how many times I have either read or heard that reality is really nothing more than perception. This is not true. An example is a number of years ago I woke up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason. I opened my eyes and I saw a man in my room next to my bed looking at me. I pretended to be asleep so he could steal whatever he wanted without harming me. It appeared that he was making sure that I was asleep. I forced my breathing to be long and slow like I was sleeping when in fact I was awake and frightened out of my mind. I did not move. My heart was pounding so hard and so loud that I was sure the man could hear it and realize that I was awake. After what seemed like hours but it was a much shorter time period, the reality of the situation was that the shadows from the moon light made it appear that there was someone in my room. My incorrect perception was not based in reality for there never was a man in my room. The reality of the situation never changed, only my perception.
Senses can play tricks on us much like my experience from the moonlight. The reality of a situation is unchanged even if our perception or belief tells us something different. We tell young children that Santa Clause brings all good little boys and girls presents at Christmas. Children really believe this. They leave out milk and cookies for Santa and when they wake up in the morning, the milk and cookies have been consumed. The perception is that Santa consumed the milk and cookies after leaving them the presents under the tree. The reality is that there is no Santa that lives in the North Pole that hops on his sled once a year and makes his rounds around the world leaving presents. Believing something does not make it truth.
So what does this have to do with a Christian blog? In all my years as a |Christian, I have heard “I can’t believe in a God that sends people to hell” or “I can’t believe in a God that allows bad things to happen” or even “I don’t believe in God.” Belief in something does not change the fact that something exists. To not believe in God because God allows bad things happen is not based in reality. This is declaring that if God does exist, then this is how things would be. It is asserting how God would be if there is a God and therefore since He doesn’t fit their perception, then it must follow that He does not exist. Another scenario is that since God does not act a certain way, then they choose not to follow Him. Either scenario does not change the fact of His existence or how He operates. Our perception of how we think He should be does not alter the reality of how a Holy God operates or exists.
There are some that declare that they will go to heaven because they are good people. They have not killed or hurt anyone; they try to live good and decent lives. The reality of scripture is that God has declared that we all fall short no matter how hard we try. The perception that the goodness of our lives will grant us access to heaven is not based in reality.
Those that claim God does not exist are obviously free to believe as they choose. The reality of scripture states that He does exist. The bible has predicted many occurrences that have come to pass including where the Messiah will be born and how He will die, all before it ever came to pass including the purpose of His life on earth. Through archeological finds, things claimed in the bible are now being proven as truth. People that claim that God is a man made imaginary being that has no basis in reality will one day step into eternity and realize their belief was not based on reality.
Mankind has made up different gods throughout the ages. However, there is but one God and He has revealed His plan and Himself. Our eternity is dependent on what we believe. There is one reality and that reality is not based on our perceptions or our desires.
Our beliefs or perceptions do not change reality. God exists and He has revealed Himself to mankind. Whether we like how He operates or not does not change how He is. God has revealed the reality of Himself in scripture. He exists and the world in which we live in is a creation of His. The world in which we live is the way it is because of mankind’s nature. Like it or not, believe it or not, He has spoken. Our perceptions or beliefs do not make reality. Our perceptions or beliefs that we are good people and therefore will go to heaven do not make reality. Our perceptions or beliefs that God does not exist do not change the reality of His existence. In other words, what we wish, desire or believe does not change a reality.
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Within this post, replete with repeated “reality”, “perception” and “belief”, I find it most interesting – phenomenal! – to include “the reality of scripture states …..” You have obviously chosen your words carefully, and I delight in them!
Thank you for your sweet & informative e-mail, as well. You were very gracious with my probing. I’ve been a Christian for over 20 years, as well, having found Christ during Jr. High. Every year since I’ve been able to freshly & truly say, “He’s changed EVERYTHING. I am not the woman I was before.”
On a lighter note, I sometimes imagine myself maintaining a completely calm demeanor while a strange man breaks into our home and rips open the shower curtain – where I’m showering. I couldn’t actually do it, of course, – like you did there in bed at night – but I certainly think that’d be the BEST response!
=)
Hi Tami, thanks for your kind words. I agree, He’s change EVERYTHING and I too am not the woman I was before.
Even though I was never in any danger since there never was any one in my room that night, I sure didn’t know it at that time. That sure was a frightening experience.
Thank you for writing this article. “What is Truth?” is not a theoretical diccourse. No arguments can demolish truth. No assertions can change it. God “is”. He is the great “I AM” This is the shortest sentence that sent Moses in a 40-year journey.
Exo 3:14 “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
Asking this question has no mental answers. The answer lies in a lifetime journey of consistency. Pilate asked this question to Jesus and he washed his hands. We as Christians ask this question to take up the cross daily to follow Him, denying ourselves, and doing his will, not ours.
There is another three letter sentence that takes a lifetime to fulfil. It is the sentence “I DO” when one gets married. This is a mystery that Paul tals of.
Eph 5:32 “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
Truth is to be lived – the Way, the Truth and the Life. All these three are active. Truth is a daily integrity, standing up for what counts, exercising due diligence in adversity, being The Real You Thinking Hard at all times before acting out. Any mismatch will be hypocrisy. May His thoughts be your thouughts so that your ways may be His ways. Is.55:8
I have been a Christian since 1970. This question still burns in me as I have not finished my journey yet. God who predestined us for His glory will one day let us see Him as He is, when all questions will cease. Therefore stay faithful to Him who called you, and hear His say “Well done good and faithful servant”.
T.R.U.T.H.
This is so true — there can be and there is no argument that can demolish truth. Thank you for your well thought out comments.