What Is Truth?

What is truth?

I hear the word in common phrases often. “Tell the truth”. “Now that’s the truth!” “He spoke the truth!” “Preach the truth.”

But most times, I hear these phrases tied into our convictions. Our beliefs on right versus wrong. Our politics. Our religions. Our perspectives. That list could go on. I suppose that if I believe something is true, that makes others that disagree with me liars. What a tangled web of distrust that creates. My own kingdom where we are categorized. It makes me a judge. It makes me the creator of my own empire. I don’t believe that was ever my duty.

I do like stories. I believe in those. Woven within someone’s story is experience, raw emotion, generational depth, roots. Something bigger, deeper. I can only learn someone’s story if I am listening. Listening without intent to interrupt with intervention, I should say. Somewhere in there, compassion weaves itself into us and presents itself as authentic love. Well, now we are no longer strangers. We are woven together within a greater tapestry. A tapestry that we’ve always been a part of but now we’re seeing it through true connection. The very image of you and the very image of me is now plain to see through the image of Truth.

Something bigger, deeper.

He is Truth, this I know. I suppose that’s why He spoke in stories. He likes those and perhaps that’s why I do too. His parables always reflected the true nature of Yahweh. He could have spoken on the politics of the time, the right from wrong, etc. He told Pilate that He came to testify the truth. He lived, He loved, He communed. And the byproduct from feasting and loving well was transformation. Wow. Is it really that good? Is it really that simple?

Something bigger, deeper.

Not creating our own truth. That’s dangerous. But dancing with the Father, Spirit and Son. Knowing who He is and who we are in Him. That truth has changed my life. Not a set of rules, dos and don’ts, etc. Living within the realm of love has produced trust and is continuously eradicating fear. Holy Spirit is overflowing into my decisions, my mentality, my perspective and my view towards people. My own story is ever evolving.

Something bigger, deeper.

Truth. Truth has a name. Yeshua. I’ve heard the phrase “you can love people straight to hell.” I hate this phrase. Because if that’s true then we’re doing ‘love’ wrong. Yeshua loved(loves) best of all and no one went to hell on His watch. He even befriended a thief in His final moments. It was never about what the thief had done, but about who he was. A brother. He wants us all feasting with Him at His table. Where He pulls out the seat first and tells us we’ve always belonged, even in our unbelief.

Why have we made it more complicated than that? Why is it hard for us to comprehend just how big and deep grace actually is? Maybe our empires have been forged by blood, sweat and tears. Perseverance and earning our way back in. Back to Adam. Back to the old. An eye for an eye seems like justice to us. This, then that. But Truth is the foundation of the new. Where reconciliation became the pillar of a new age, a new earth, a new covenant. Truth became the cornerstone, the gate, the mercy seat, the everything. True justice runs like a river, transforming everything in its path.

Something bigger, deeper.

It is the greatest story ever told. The one we’re living in. The one laced with good news. The one that is free. The one that is Truth.