Your Truth, My Truth

Have you ever told a lie? Tell the truth! What keeps you from telling the truth, what keeps you from lying?

I must admit I was a big fat liar and pretty proud of it. I was often perplexed when I, as a child, lied to my mom, and she called me out, knowing I was lying. It wasn't until I accepted Jesus Christ did I feel any shame, conviction or remorse. At that time it wasn't just my mother who knew I was lying, but also a Holy God. It was with His help that I was able to abandon habitually lying.

It has become very popular to proclaim "my truth", "your truth" "facts." And somehow just because it's something you experience, believe, think, or say, it makes it truth? There have been many times when I swore something was true when it really wasn't. There have also been times when I judged motive and was totally convinced I knew what a person meant by their behavior, a look, or gesture; I was wrong. How could I possibly know, I'm not a mind or heart reader. At that moment, it was my truth or at least I thought it was? As a matter of fact, in todays world we have no idea what is true and what isn't.

We are living in a time where we can't even trust ourselves, let alone anyone else. If I have a truth and you have a different truth, we have no absolutes. God has spoken on truth. Here are just two verses we can ponder: "Let God be true but every man a liar" Romans 3:4. When we call God a liar we deny this next verse: "Your word is truth." John 17:17. God never says or promises anything He won't do. Considering just those two truths, it's clear who's truth is true. I know I cannot trust my truth, or yours for that matter. I promise you the potential for knowing and understanding what is really true on our own is slim to none. Here are some of the arenas where I have recently questioned if anyone was telling the truth: our government, leaders, churches, schools, clergy, media, meteorologist, scientist, doctors, the entertainment industry, our elections, universities, movies, food industry, medical industry, law enforcement, military, political parties, politicians, healthcare industry and the pharmaceutical industry. Let me also say without question, I've never just categorically considered that the people who work for and are involved in any of these arenas are bad, untruthful people. In fact, just the opposite. I do not know enough to know. I don't know a person's heart or motive. Every time I assume something about someone God reminds me that He knows, I don't, and I can trust Him only for discernment.

So what exactly is truth? God's word is truth you can depend on and you can trust in. I heard a gentleman being interviewed on TV recently, and he said there were just too many inconsistencies in the bible. He stated he really didn't believe all that stuff. Sometimes, we have our truth and it tells us we are smarter than God, but what does God Himself say? Jesus said "I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6. When will we know the truth? When we listen to and obey Gods word, "then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." John 8:32