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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: TRUTH (08/31/23)
You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (John 8:32)

This profound statement is made by Jesus Himself during a rather lengthy conversation with true believers and many nay-sayers in Chapter 8 of John’s gospel. The Pharisees, the Scribes, and even the Jews are refuting Jesus and His teachings with statements such as:

“Your testimony is not valid.” (John 8:13)

“Who are You?” (John 8:25)

“How can You say, ‘you will become free’?” (John 8:33)

“Aren’t we right in saying that You’re a Samaritan and have a demon?” (John 8:48)

Can we handle the truth? Like these skeptics in Jesus’ day, we pick up stones to throw at God’s Word. We place our hands over our ears at the Sunday message that pricks our souls, refusing to meditate and respond on bended knee to what was placed on our heart that pleads with us to turn from the destruction coming. We shut our eyes from the obvious crumbling of the family unit, or the friend or spouse whose life lie in ruins because they embrace the culture lie of “you are who you say you are”. Real truth brings turmoil, causes division, and brings on unwanted criticism. “There is nothing new under the sun.” as the preacher proclaims in Ecclesiastes 1:9. Society has always attempted to construct its own definition to appease its conscience.

The worldly way of truth is whatever it says it is. Our minds are continually bombarded with others feeding us false information in the form of proclaimed truth and woos us to work outside of the realm of true reality. Worldly truth is, at its essence, an act of rebellion against the “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).

Because of humanity’s deep rebellion against the Creator God, we fight and battle with His absolute truth and start to construct our own reality. Could it be that if we have our own truth then we also have no authority to submit to outside of ourselves? Perhaps that is where we should start.

The only reality that is absolute can be found in the person, works, and words of Jesus Christ, who “In the beginning was the Word… The Word became flesh and dwelt among us… He was the only Son, from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1,14).

A heart bent on refusing to submit to a Holy authority is headed down the slippery slope of despair. God’s way of truth leads to freedom, freed from the tyrannical power of self. As long as we continue to rebel and attempt to build our own empire of truth as it applies to us, we will not be able to handle the real truth that comes from a Father who loves us and longs for us to live there with Him.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Philippa Geaney
09/14/23
Your words certainly tackle the challenge head-on.
What is truth in this age of relativism?
It could be argued that a less accusatory voice would have made the message a little more receivable - e.g. the danger in making our own rules is ...
But then again Jesus did not mince words when saying “I am the Way, the Truth, the Light.
Well thought out.