What is Truth?

Jesus said in John 18:37, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." After saying these words, Pontius Pilate makes a proverbial statemant, "What is truth?" In that moment, Pontius Pilate walked away from the greatest authority of truth. What is truth? Webster's New World Dictionary defines truth as 1. sincerity; honesty 2. conformity with fact 3. REALITY; ACTUAL EXISTENCE 4. AGREEMENT WITH A STANDARD. The quintessence of truth is reality and the conformity or agreement to this reality. The terminology used for defining the inability to perceive truth is known as insanity.

The embodiment of Jesus' saying resolves Pontius Pilate's statement. Pilate's quest for reality could only be found in Jesus. Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. What is truth? What did Jesus bear witness to? Jesus was and testified the reality that can only be found in the one true God. The Hebrew word for truth, 'emeth, characterizes both God's words and actions in the Old Testament. THIS IS JESUS' POINT! He came to show the world both in words and actions the truth of God. He came to show the world the truth of God's standard. The truth of God's love, mercy, holiness, and judgement. For example, the world has twisted the standard of love. The world has projected love as this fluid, self-seeking, pleasuring emotion in which we as people must seek our own wealth and pleasure first then whatever is leftover, charity overwhelms our emotions (notice I didn't say heart) and we leave these oddments for those less fortunate. Jesus flips this lie and states in John 15:12, "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." This sacrifical love of putting others before yourself (the standard of God) negates the simplicity and egocentricity of our culture. Anything outside the reality of God's standard is insanity and futile. The lies of secular culture leaves humanity without profit and always searching. It's time for believers to start testifiying to the truth of God in both words and actions. I'll end with these verses from 2 Timothy 24-26, "And the Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. "

What a Week!!

Last week was one of the most fulfilling, most challenging, most tiring week's of my life. Of course, I'm talking about the major ice storm that slowly made it's way over Northeast Arkansas and other parts of the country. Thousands were without power and needed help. I'm thankful for our church and other churches in our area (First General Baptist Church, Maple Grove Baptist Church, First Assembly of God, Trinity Baptist Association, etc.) who stepped up to the challenge. While I'm still feeling the effects of last week, I'm overwhelmed with how a community came together and relationships were formed. God used a disaster and turned it into a blessing (seems to happen frequently). I enjoyed getting to talk and learn the stories of different people. Some of these stories were amazing and others made your eyes tear up. Probably the greatest feeling was not just serving and learning about these people, but seeing a majority of these people who had never been to church or had not been to church in years, in church on Sunday.

Peace,
Brett

My Daily Prayer

Rescue Me, Save Me O God
Rescue Me, Save Me O God

I’m sinking deep, I can hardly breathe
Save me from myself
Rescue me


Rescue me, Save Me O God
Rescue Me, Save Me O God

The water’s too high
The darkness is taking over me
Save me from myself

Rescue me, Rescue me
Save me O God, Save me O God

For the Lord he is good, In Him I trust
For He is enough for me

He is my rock, He is my shield
All I have is Him
All I have is You, Jesus