Seeking Truth

Pilate questioned Jesus about the charges brought the religious leaders had made against Him. Pilate could find no reason for Jesus to be sentenced to death; nevertheless he knew that outside an angry mob was on the verge of rioting because of Jesus. Pilate finished his questioning of Jesus by asking, “What is truth?” Pilate never gave Jesus the chance to answer that question. Instead it seems Pilate made his own truth. Trying to set Jesus free he finally washed his hands of the whole situation and turned Jesus over to be crucified. At least Pilate could say he was innocent of his death.

It seems that Pilate is not the only politician who invents his own truth. Democrats and Republicans both claim to support our troops and justify their votes in speeches while our soldiers are still waiting for funding for the supplies they so desperately need. Who is right? What is truth? I guess it all depends upon which side of the political isle you favor.

Now before you tune me out because you think I’m only pondering politics understand that we all do the same thing with truth in one way or another. How often have you or I invented ‘truth’ that causes others to scratch their head and wonder what we were thinking?

Our culture claims that truth is relative, that we all can have our own personal truth, but by definition truth is absolute. A truth cannot be both true for me and false for you. It is like believing that 2+2=5 (or any other number besides 4) and then justifying your answer as being valid!

Is there a way that we can know the truth? Or is the truth a mystery that cannot be solved? I think Isaiah offers an answer.

• This lover of emptiness, of nothing, is so out of touch with reality, so far gone, that he can't even look at what he's doing, can't even look at the no-god stick of wood in his hand and say, "This is crazy."
  Isaiah 44:20 (MsgB)

Isaiah describes the idolatry of those who worship false gods; those who cut down a tree and use some of the wood for a fire but take one log and carve it into the shape of a god, overlay it with gold and then worship it. And when they are in trouble they come to their carved firewood and pray for help. Such a person “feeds on ashes” deluded and unable to even ask themselves “Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?”

If we are going to discover the truth I think it begins by asking some honest questions. Lies and fabricated truth will crumble under examination, but genuine truth will withstand the onslaught of testing and inquiry. Truth can be validated.

So is what you believe true? Do your actions line up with what you say you believe? Ask yourself some tough questions and uncover the truth. The good news is that God stands ready to forgive all those who will expose the lie they have believed.

• I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you."
  Isaiah 44:22 (NIV)