Julie's Raintree

"What is truth?"

The title to this post was spoken by Pontius Pilate, Governor of the Rome Province of Judea. He was also the one who ordered Jesus crucified.

The famous quote was spoken to Jesus. Pilates question to Jesus was preceded by what Jesus said to him first in John 18:37.

"...Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice."

Remember when we were growing up & our mothers had a supernatural ability to know when we were lying? & that ability was passed down to us & will be passed down to all generations of mother's after us. Some, they knew because of the chocolate mint Girl Scout cookie crumbs on our faces, or we

had the fragrance of her talcum powder on our bodies, mascara smeared around our eyes, dog hairs on our sheets, or the guilty looks on our faces. Other times, lying to our mothers was divined because God has given mother's this 'gift' to 'see' into our children's minds & hearts.

Now, what is the definition of 'lying'?

It's, not telling the truth. No guesswork here. The dictionary defines lying as:

"To make an untrue statement with intent to deceive."

Notice, "with intent to deceive."

When anyone lies, they know exactly what they are doing. It's on purpose; no mistake, no accident. It's cowardly & it's sin.

In our world today, because of endless word spinning & lying in our media, it is hard to know who is telling the truth at times, & because of that there is a pandemic of trust erosion.

So, let's define what truth is not.

Truth is not relative, which says, there are no absolutes.

There is no such thing as your truth & my truth. Truth is truth all by itself.

There are no gray areas about truth any more than there are gray areas about gravity.

"Science is truth." NOT! Science is perception.

Subjective truth: "Truth is based off of a person's feelings, opinions, or perspective." Big time 'No, Nada, Uh-uh!" No such thing in connection with truth. This is simply opinion.

"The truth is rarely pure & never simple." Oscar Wilde

Actually, truth IS pure & truth IS simple. I am no theologian, but we are really making this too hard & philosophical or profound, which it isn't. & yet it is. Profound. Profoundly simple.

Because truth is wrapped up in one word. or rather, one Person.

JESUS

"I AM the way, the TRUTH & the life..." John 14:6

"...you shall know the Truth, & the Truth shall set you free."

John 8:32

"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." John 17:17

It's very restful & 'securing' to know that there really is truth in our world, we don't have to be suspicious or skeptical or unsure. Truth gives us cohesion, or in other words, keeps us from falling apart. Truth dispels hopelessness & futility because it is dependable & gives us back our trust. Not in people or even ourselves. But in Someone who is solid & dependable in the fact that He will never fail us, leave us, forsake us, or stop loving us. & He will always tell us the truth because He IS truth.

This is what is commonly called 'Passion Week' among followers of Jesus. This has always been an intense & even dark time for me as I remember & think about what Jesus must have endured. I can't fathom it & honestly I don't think I could live through it, to know this side of heaven. & I want to cry out, "Oh Pilate, Pilate, if you only knew that the answer to your question was standing right in front of you." So tragic that he couldn't see because there was no truth in him to recognize Truth when he saw Him. When Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do you say I am?", Peter said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

The most important question you will ever be asked. "Who do YOU say that I am?"

What is truth?

He is the Son part of the Godhood.

His name is,

JESUS...

& the Truth will set you free.