IS TRUTH RARE?
Is there such a thing as absolute truth? Many today might say that truth is on the decline. Yet, if there is absolute truth, it is fact and will not decline whether people believe it or not. Is truth rare?
Is truth just a matter of opinion?
Peoples’ opinions often change. What they believe as truth one day, may be replaced by something else another day, depending on how they feel.
Sometimes people may say what they think others want to hear, even if the facts don’t add up. Or maybe what they believe when they are with one group changes when they are with another.
Is everything relative nowadays?
Is it such a rare idea to think there is right and wrong, good and evil, truth and falsehood?
To some, truth is whatever you want it to be. So, I ask the question, is truth rare? The answer is no. Truth itself is not rare, but it may be hard to find in our culture where there are so many contradictions. That is why we need to look outside ourselves and look to God. He is the One who created and sustains us and all creation.
The God who made the world and everything in it—he is Lord of heaven and earth—does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives everyone life and breath and all things… For in him we live and move and have our being, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.
Acts 17:24-25,28
TRUTH AND TRUST
These excerpts from words my son penned about four years before he died seem to fit here.
“The reason we often lament of truth is that there is so little trust. If we want truth we need honest people…
Rather than allowing God’s people to fall into the turmoils that beset the modern Christian… breaking their faith to pieces every time they start to grow a little in the knowledge of Christ, we need to provide an environment where followers of Jesus can grow and develop in their walk with him, getting to know him one-on-one through the Scriptures, and mirroring him faithfully in their lives, for which there is great reward more than just spiritually in this life…
For such an environment to exist we can’t have useless wordy opinions about policy, hateful finger-pointing, self-justifications, worthless rules and regulations, or weak 12-step programs. Instead, we need faithful, honest people who are willing to give up everything for the sake of Christ and model the true Gospel in the lives they live and the acts they commit as much as the words they speak.
May God bless his people and restore us once again to knowledge of the truth and the richness of his grace.”
~Stephen J. Wright (b.1990 – d. 2019)
Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:16-17
This poem I wrote in 2020 is still relevant today.
TRUTH, LOVE AND HOPE
My heart is heavy, Lord.
Evil seems rampant
in our world.
Hatred is found in
words and acts.
Have we forgotten love?
All claim to have the truth.
This side must be right;
that one, wrong.
No, that side is right;
this one, wrong.
Why are we divided?
Up is down and down, up,
in this mixed up world
we live in,
We sometimes confuse
right and wrong.
How can we find the truth?
My heart is heavy, Lord,
but not without hope
in the One
true God and Savior,
Jesus Christ,
the Life, the Truth, the Way.
He came to give us life
by His sacrifice.
His great love
sent Him to the cross,
all for us.
Will we not trust in Him?
My heart is heavy, Lord,
but I need not fear
tomorrow.
Whatever happens
in this land;
we are in Your hands.
So, look to God, my friend.
He is the truth that
sets you free.
Ask Him for wisdom
to discern;
then proceed with love.
May we learn to love and trust more, listening to each other and together coming to a knowledge of the truth. In this relativistic culture where anything goes, we need God’s love, wisdom and direction. His truth is eternal and unchanging, and He is faithful.
But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
Ephesians 4:15-16
This post combines Days 12, 13,14 for #write28days. Prompt words are decline, fact and rare.
I’m linking up with: #TeaAndWord, #InspireMeMonday, #Let’sHaveCoffee
Gayl-I love your son’s words! He seemed like a trustworthy and sweet soul who understood what truth is. I lament (as I know you must too) that He is not here in person to help us to be trustworthy truthbearers, but I trust God in even that. And I am thankful that you have shared his witness and life. Thank you for being a good witness of God’s truth to him and to many others. I pray the Lord would indeed restore His people to be those who share His grace and truth without fear, fully trusting in Him.
Amy, thank you so much! Your comments are encouraging and I say a big amen to your prayer. May God strengthen our faith and bring many more to share His love and trust Him always. Blessings to you!
Gayl, your son’s words are so wise. I love what you said about truth not being rare. Truth is truth. What can be rare is the number of people who believe truth for what it is. This post got me thinking!
Thank you, Jeanne! Yes, truth is truth. I pray that God will open the eyes of people to see His truth. I love it when a post helps people to think. It helps me to think when I’m writing it! Sometimes it really takes me a while to get the words together. Blessings to you! xo
Gayl, these words from your son >> “May God bless his people and restore us once again to knowledge of the truth and the richness of his grace.” Amen! Thank you for sharing this post as it surely is an encouraging reminder of God’s unchanging and truthful Word!
Joanne, thank you so much for reading and commenting. In these days it’s good to be reminded of the truth that God’s word is unchanging and true. Blessings to you! xo
Oh Gayl, thank you for sharing this inspiring post including Stephen’s solid and convicting words. Your poem and thoughts affirmed God’s truth and Scriptures so well. I join you in praying for our hearts to become so sensitive to His truth. Blessings and hugs to you dear sister.
Dear Bettie, I am so glad you were inspired. Yes, Stephen really understood and tried to help others understand the truth of the Scriptures. Thank you for joining me in prayer. Love, blessings and hugs to you, sweet sister! xoxo
Gayl,
Your son had your gift with words. I loved this–“May God bless his people and restore us once again to knowledge of the truth and the richness of his grace.” I’m praying this today.
And as I re-read your post this morning, I am captured by your poem. It’s so poignant.
Blessings,
Tammy
Thank you, Tammy. He had wisdom beyond his years. I am praying, too, that his prayer will come true. Thank you for your kind words. Blessings to you!
On point, sister. It is much harder to stick with a small group of disciples where you get to know one another and each other’s flaws, and keep pressing on together, I believe, than the way some large church attendance with no personal accountability encourages. I say harder but it’s really not, if one desires to grow. It is much richer, because it requires everything of us. I wonder if many modern churches would say it’s too extreme, but it’s the way of Him. I feel marriage is this way too; a representation of the covenant He gave. I hope you have a blessed week!
Thank you for your thoughts, Meg! Yes, I agree with you. It does require everything from us, but He gave everything for us. And yes, marriage should be a representation of that covenant. It’s picture of Christ and the Church. Blessings and hugs to you, dear sister! xo