THURSDAY, MARCH 29
“For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”
John 18:37-38 ESV
WRESTLING WITH THE TRUTH: IS THIS RELATIVE?
Walter Truett Anderson gave an example of three baseball umpires. One says with certainty, “There’s balls and there’s strikes, and I call ‘em the way they are.” The second umpire, with a bit less assurance, says, “There’s balls and there’s strikes, and I call ‘em the way I see ‘em.” The third umpire, a thoroughgoing postmodernist, says, “There’s balls and there’s strikes, and they ain’t nothin’ until I call ‘em.” Some believe truth is what they perceive it to be, and nothing more.
When Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” he was asking a good question. It’s a question that we all should ask. Author and speaker Josh Mcdowell said, “When we talk about truth we are saying this: That which is right for everyone, at all times and at all places. There are basically two models for understanding truth. 1) Truth is defined by God for everyone, it is objective and absolute. 2) Truth is defined by the individual, it is subjective and situational.”
If it is true that gravity exists, then I must take that truth into consideration when deciding whether or not to go hang gliding or bungee jumping. If I refuse to believe that gravity exists, then I may go bungee jumping with absolutely no fear. Nevertheless, if the cord is longer than the jump, the truth is going to be around long after I’ve flattened myself on the dry river bed below.
Satan has been trying to get us to doubt God’s truth since the creation of man. He is still trying to lie to us about who God is and what God has said is best for us. Jesus taught in John 8:31-32, “If you abide in My Word, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” The path to spiritual freedom is a relationship with Jesus that is allowing His Word to mature us and grow us. What areas of your life do you desire to have greater freedom? Ask God to show you what His truth is about those areas of your life? Ask God to use His Word to grow you into freedom in those areas.
