Is Truth How We Live, or Just Something We Say? What is It?
Truth is not merely correct information—it is the reality of GOD’s Nature, Word, and Ways made known to us.
I presume some reasons why men and women struggle with speaking, seeking and living out truth, is because they “struggle with It.” Why? Consider it stubbornness or sinfulness. It’s woven into the cracks of the individual.
Humans struggle with speaking, seeking, and living out Truth because Truth threatens the false identities, false securities, and false accounts we build to survive.
The GOD of Truth has given His followers a double assignment: Get the Truth out and Love the people with It. In many ways, His servants have failed. We all have!
Getting His Truth out is not just going to be us talking about a truth, It is expected to be, The Truth! We people focus more on with sharing our thoughts and opinions, than the accuracy of the Word of GOD.
NOTE: His Truth comprises His Word, His character, His compassion and His ways.
When we extend the effort to care for people, we are to love them with GOD’s Truth. His Son is that Truth and He is incapable of being anything else. However, in our lack of understanding and reluctance to see Him as He is, we will choose (and usually do) to twist It to fit our own purpose and plan to get or achieve what outcome we desire or hope for.
Truth without love wounds those on the other end. Love without Truth weakens under the stress of unmet expectations. However, GOD’s Truth delivered by way of His love - heals, restores, and awakens us to the reality and not the expectations. …ours.
Every human being builds a “survival self” — a persona designed to protect us from shame, rejection, and vulnerability. How do I know this? I have done this. I have found that I needed to have a part of me set to survive the loss.
Truth, that has the definition originating from GOD’s Holy Hill does some very specific things in a person. Truth exposes what we hide, confronts what we fear and ultimately dismantles what we depend on. When the Spirit of GOD invaded my life, after I surrendered, all that I thought was safe and hidden became out front and safer.
Most people don’t resist Truth because they hate it, they resist Him because Truth offers the impending demise to the false self.
When Yeshua said, “You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you free,” consider the inference of the freedom He is offering from the captivity you and I are bound in. Captivity implies chains. Chains imply fear. Truth is liberation — but liberation will often feel like loss before it feels like life.
Oh… PILATE... He entered the messy scene and when thrust into the rough spot, he asked, “What is Truth?” Why would this be recorded? We don’t know why he asked that question, outside of him being curious himself. One must admit that asking that question will expose the foundation of everything else.
Maybe, just maybe this is a lot like the struggle we have when this situation is presented to us, when having to come to grips of exposure and/or (self) revelation.
Asking someone to “Tell me the truth” could be to test the source — not just what they say, but whether what you hear is truly from GOD.
Asking someone to “Tell me the truth” could be to clarify stuff. If the intension is to carry truth, then we need to know what truth is.
Asking someone to “Tell me the truth” could be to get to the real reason for the tension. Many people want comfort, certainty, or validation, but not always truth itself. Have you met any? Is that you?
Asking someone to “Tell me the truth” could be to invite him or her to surrender. Sometimes GOD asks a question not because He lacks the answer, but because He wants to uncover ours. I know I experience this when speaking with people.
Pilate may have asked that question because truth is the root issue—before someone can speak it, carry it, or live by it, they must first confront what they believe truth really is. ..and at THAT moment, too many people are working and pressing him to make a decision. …a rather important one. We could determine that having “no fault” may deem truth to be evident. He “found none” in Jesus.
A man who speaks what GOD says, will often be the one who loves how GOD loves and will stand where GOD stands on issues. That same man will learn to yield and move when GOD’s Spirit moves and leads him.
Here something interesting I found relating to “truth” itself…
In Philosophy, truth is a statement that matches the facts.
Everyday use has truth inquiring about what actually happened. It may not seek to understand it though.
Religious (spiritual) context relates that Truth can also mean ultimate reality, GOD Nature, or what is eternally Right.
The Bible presents Truth as more than factual accuracy. It describes Truth (Emet) as rooted in GOD Himself, that has been revealed in His Word, and fully embodied in His Son, Jesus the Messiah. In reality, the Letter of GOD Law (Words of Instruction and Guidance) gives some explicit references to how GOD see Truth. I have a few of those as well. Here goes…
Truth MUST come from GOD’s Nature, since GOD is True; and His Word is Truth. How is that? His Word is reliable, holy, and final. I count that as “NAILING IT.”
The Bible declares, “Yeshua is the Truth!” This specifically tells us He is not just a Teacher of Truth, but HE IS Truth represented, exemplified and personified—John 14:6
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. His job is to not only teach us the Ways of GOD, He leads people into Truth—John 16:13
Truth is moral and spiritual, not just factual. All of those depict a human life’s structure. When pertaining to how we should live, it will include faithfulness, righteousness, sincerity, and what aligns with GOD’s reality.
What do you think?
I could list a longer list, but I am hoping you are seeing a pattern. With that, Biblically, Truth is not only what is correct, but what is consistent with GOD’s Character, Word, and kingdom. Truth-telling is impossible without a stable identity.
Most people avoid Truth (GOD’s Word) because, they don’t know who they are, they fear who they might be or as in my experience, they cling to who they pretend to be. Truth demands a self that is strong enough to survive exposure.
The Hebrew word Emet is one of those words that refuses to stay flat on the page. It is not “truth” the way English means truth. It is Truth as reality, stability, covenant, reliability, and alignment with anything associated with GOD.
Truth requires courage, and courage requires support. I can’t tell you how many times I was openly free about my struggles, and another brother (my wife as well) has stood there and recorded hearing and mental notes. When the listening was over. There was a plan for me to get stronger.
This is why the Bereans needed “added support and confidence.” Truth is not a solo sport.
People struggle with (self) truth because courage leaks and fear grows. What happens next is isolation becomes easier, gets strengthened and shame becomes louder.
Truth needs a community that says, ““We will stand with you even if the truth costs us.” I have needed that time and time again. Without that, most people fold.
When Yeshua says, “I am the Truth,” He doesn’t mean “I am correct.” He means, “I am the Faithful One. I am the Stable One. I am the One Who holds together from beginning to end.”
In Scripture, Truth is not primarily about facts. It is about faithfulness.
A person who is “true” is reliable.
A Covenant that is “true” is kept.
A GOD Who is “True” is faithful.
What do you think?