Greetings in Christ,
Truth takes many forms, and it comes in many ways. It is based on the known facts or understanding. For example a tree is a tree. When we look at a tree we know it is a tree by the known facts or understanding we have of other people’s past knowledge of what a tree looks like. It is based on the facts it has a roots, trunk, limbs, branches, and leaves, but this truth can change as we know it by changing its state of form.
If the tree is cut down and milled, it may become lumber for building homes, ground into pulp for paper, or mulch for our garden or flower beds. It is no longer true it is a tree, but rather has changed into the forms by being converted, but it will still remain true it came from a tree.
Some truth can take many forms and states in its life of being truth. We have to recognize it as so and for the most part we do this without much trouble. It usually is based on fact or reality, a verified undisputable fact, or an obvious accepted fact. We can even verify truth by honesty, integrity, or truthfulness.
If we know someone has told the truth we believe it to be truth. We can count it being true by their integrity. The problem occurs when we do not believe they are of integrity so we have a tendency to not believe them to be true.
Jesus was confronted with integrity issues by the Jews. They did not believe Jesus was the Son of God. Jesus spoke with so much authority they could not believe He could know and believe what He was saying. The Jews felt Jesus was possessed by a demon. They felt Jesus was going against the truth they knew. They were not considering all the facts or relying on the understanding of what others knew in the past.
The truth they were seeking had changed forms many times and they could not recognize Jesus as Jesus. They had convinced themselves they had the truth, and they were convinced Jesus was not to arrive into this world the way He did. They were convinced Jesus was to descend from heaven in style and all His bling would be apparent, but not to be born in manger to a carpenter’s wife. They created their truth by going against the known facts, the obvious, and the integrity of Jesus’ words. They were not listening for the truth, but rather looking for physical truth.
Paul was encouraging Timothy to be of true character, integrity, and be truthful in his words. People were not accepting of him due to his young age. They could not believe Timothy could be a leader, or a preacher, but Paul kept telling Timothy to stand fast in his beliefs because he was doing the right thing. Timothy was facing the same dilemma Jesus faced. The people in both cases could not believe Jesus and Timothy could speak with authority about the truth of God’s word.
I want to encourage you to be of true character standing tall in the truth of God’s word. God’s truth can come to us in many forms and many ways, but it is still God’s truth. It will always be based on known fact or reality, a verified or indisputable fact, honesty, or integrity.
In Paul’s words to Timothy, “On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things. Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”
“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Thy name give glory because of Thy lovingkindness, because of Thy truth.” Psalms 115:1
“But as for us, we will bless the Lord from this time forth and forever. Praise the Lord!” Psalms 115:18
Lord guide us in Your truth, and may we recognize Your truth when it reveals itself to us. Amen
Blessings,
Mark Johnson
Psalm 114, 115, 148, 149, 150; 1 Kings 8:22-40; 1Timothy 4:7b-16; John 8:47-59