Truth ends suffering, but only when we awaken to and accept its existence despite the world’s attempt to bend and alter it.
It seems the one constant in humanity is our infliction of suffering on ourselves and others. In the name of justice, religion, ideology, righteousness, and unfortunately, truth, we destroy so much. Labels all, illusions all, and yet we cling to them as if they define us. As if it is they who determine our worth.
The thing that separates us from the animals is the very thing that breeds that arrogance that if left unchecked, will ultimately destroy us, our analytical minds. That’s not to say that thinking and pursuing wisdom are futile endeavors. Quite the opposite. Through the centuries, mankind has made unquestionable progress, accomplishing tremendous feats and improving the lives and well-being of countless generations. In every generation that earned wisdom is passed on in the hope that the lessons learned will prevent future suffering.
That wisdom isn’t frivolous or unfounded. It’s based on truth that has existed since the dawn of time and is inherent in creation. Truth does not come from the world, it was sent into the world. It isn’t malleable, bendable, or subjective. It doesn’t belong to any one of us, and yet, it is available to all of us. Truth is not about control, rather, truth is freedom.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father
James 1: 17-18
of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose
to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits
of all He created.
We are created in love and endowed with truth that surpasses this world. Yet, because we exist in the world, we cling to our humanness more often than we do to our spirits where truth lives and breaths and has its being. We give in to our own selfishness and desire and turn away from truth accepting instead the lies that allow us to live with our poor choices or to continually justify our actions. That is part of the free will we were also given. We can disabuse ourselves of truth’s unalterable existence, but we cannot alter truth.
Proverbs 119:160 tells us, “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever.” God’s word points us in the direction of truth and brings us to the fullness of the freedom that exists within it. Freedom from what? From the inadequacies of the world and its attempts to thwart and deceive us.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Jesus is truth in human form because he is God in human form. In Jesus, truth came into the world to confront evil, transform hearts and minds, heal brokenness, and deliver us from sin. He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” John 14:6.
Believing in Jesus Christ is to acknowledge that God truly exists, that He is who He says He is, and that through the Holy Spirit, Truth is revealed. “But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all Truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come,” John 16:13.
Obedience to God is to acknowledge that His words as true, His Commandments are true, and His promises as true. And when we live obediently and faithfully we come to know Truth because we come to know He who is Truth in person. To know Jesus is to know Truth. And to know and live Truth is to be free—truly free.
