Christmas Message
December 22, 2013
Truth
A Russian couple was walking down the street in St. Petersburg recently, when the man felt a drop hit his nose. “I think it’s raining,” he said to his wife.
“No, that felt more like snow to me,” she replied.
“Actually, I’m sure it was just rain,” he said.
As these things go, they were about to have a major argument about whether it was raining or snowing. Just then they saw a minor Communist Party official walking toward them. “Let’s not fight about it,” the man said, “let’s ask Comrade Rudolph whether it’s officially raining or snowing.” As the official approached, the man said, “Tell us Comrade Rudolph, is it officially raining or snowing?”
“It’s raining, of course,” he answered as he began to walk on.
But the woman insisted: “I know that felt like snow!”
To which the man quietly replied: Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear!”
Truth can be in the eye of the beholder, or in this case, someone in control with power, such as the Party official. Mankind has been in dispute about what truth is since the beginning. Ask anybody the question; what is truth? The response will be what that person has experienced and what their understanding of reality is. With such a variance of opinion and conviction, which is different for each person, humanity has been missing the defining meaning of absolute truth; something that should mean the same to every human.
Our dictionary gives the definition of truth as; the real facts about something, the things that are true. Additionally, words such as fidelity and consistency are used, and the state of being the case, sincerity in action, character and utterance. British dictionaries use; fidelity to an original or to a standard.
Without a singular standard, humanity lives in chaos, particularly when there are multiple standards. Look anywhere in history and you will see that without a true standard to live by, individual truths only result in conflict since we want others to live by our standards, rules or belief, so the world will be at peace with us. While there is a desire for harmony in relationships, we can’t reach such bliss with conflicting and individual truths. Such is the case with religion. For example, there are so many versions of truth within the Evangelical Church that 41,000 denominations exist in the U.S. alone. Add to this list the differences in other religions around the world, and you find vast confusion about truth of life and how to live in success.
War is blamed on religion, although it’s not religion that causes war, it’s humanities insistence that a particular way to live is absolute and all others should adhere. Every combatant believes their truth to be the winning one, and have the will to force their truth on another nation, tribe or person. Blame war on differences in belief, belief that may or may not be connected to religion. Belief is not exclusive to religion. The mind that attributes all war to religion is already at war with religion.
It is true, we are a warring society, and by society, I mean all of humanity. If we have no external enemy, we turn on each other. If there is no conflict in our lives, we make it happen through drama or live out conflicts vicariously through football teams, famous racecar drivers, mixed-martial-arts fighters, soap operas or even professional wrestling favorites. Movies and video games portraying violence is the modern norm that helps keep our conflict-loving attitudes engaged.
In 1963, the year President Kennedy was assassinated, a document was created by top social engineers, political and military leaders in our Country, on the desirability of peace. The conclusion was that our society needs war to be satisfied, so the War on Poverty and War on Drugs were planned to satisfy the desire for struggle so more Government and taxes would be seen necessary. We don’t like poverty and illegal drugs, so selling these wars to the people, supported by Government was easy. The ruling classes know that manufacturing their version truth is important to their goals.
But isn’t there a better way? Can we not find a way to live outside of conflict? Is there truth we can all accept without force or war of some kind? There is, and establishing a truth that leads to love is what Christmas is about.
Last week’s lesson included a statement from Matthew 11 verse 12 that reads, “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been administered by force, and only those in power control it.” So force has been used to bend mankind’s thinking, even in religion, but now and because of Christmas, the arrival of truth has changed how we accept what God has to offer. John chapter one, verse 17 reads, “For the Law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Yeshua, The Messiah.” Truth as presented and represented by Christ is the way to live, and grace helps us bridge the gap between arriving at that truth and living in it. Truth alone is difficult for mankind, but when grace and forgiveness is added, truth is tolerable yet beneficial in bringing us all to peace and joy.
Organized religion has claimed so many different truths about the same passages of scripture that even the elect are confused about many points of fact, so the most profound fact of the ages has been largely and greatly missed, and when disclosed, a collective “what?!” is heard. Regardless, when we not only see the changes God made for a relationship with us through His Son, but read what Messiah said of himself, the certainty and disclosure of the plan takes shape in the minds willing to accept it.
The birth of the Son of God did not happen to support our version of truth, but to bring God’s truth to mankind. This is not to say that the Master just tells the truth, or everything He did is in line with truth, but He is truth personified, the very embodiment of truth, a standard of truth that we all can follow so conflict is no longer needed to gain peace. For this reason, He is the Prince of Peace. The Christ’s actions were so perfectly aligned with truth, that He was the perfect example we need to live in harmony with each other and with God. His perfection was based in truth of life as God intended. And how are we to live? It’s quite simple; in love. Without truth there is no love. The purest translation of John 14:6 is; “I am the way to live in love and I provide the truth to live in love. It is not possible to live in love outside of truth.” Whether the Teacher said that or not, is the statement correct? Ask yourself; is it possible to live in love outside of truth?
Old Testament Hebrew uses twelve words translated into our English word “truth.” Translators had these words with multiple meanings but failed in so many cases to convey the meanings. We read the word “truth” in scripture when meanings of “stability, certainty, firmness, security, fidelity, indeed, no doubt, balance, equity, reality, trustworthiness” and more are reduced to the one word. Then, in the New Testament Greek, six words are used for “truth.” From “strong affirmation, not concealing, reality, certainty and to be true,” we are given, once again, the single word “truth.” But, the most important is the Greek al-ay’-thi-a, the word to describe the Christ Child. This important word specifically means, “truth, from not-concealing,” or al-ay-thace’. Please grasp that God (love) is NOT concealing truth from us, but revealing it through His Son (truth) so we, if we accept His truth, will live in the Father, complete in ourselves and with each other.
Humanity has not acknowledged nor known what Messiah came to represent because we have not been able to set aside our elementary perceptions of who He is or the reason for His arrival. The very concept of truth for humanity seems to take us in circles of thought, which is one reason the confusion had to end for us to live in love and have a relationship with God. That relationship is the purpose of our existence. For even the most learned, who do not grasp that universal truth that Christ arrived to lead us to love, attempts to explain truth are futile.
After reading several other tries to explain truth, I want to slam the books shut and give it definition myself, yet the issue is deep, and especially way too deep for those who feel more comfortable with untruth or their version of it. How then is humanity to come to any sense of understanding? Let’s start with an infant, born in a very humble setting. Let’s let His character develop as He grows, and grows on us. Instead of defining truth, or seeing it simply as the opposite of lies, let’s read and listen to His words and watch how He carries out His purpose. Instead of our dissertations on the subject, let’s just do what He does and immolate how truth behaves and lives with others. We had to have an example! Without an example that walked and talked like us, there would be no chance at living in love or getting anywhere close to living in truth.
It’s one thing to see truth as it applies to others, yet the most difficult truth to deal with is that within us. In the Gospel of Thomas, which is full of quotes from the Teacher, we find that the most important truth is knowing ourselves. In the first Chapter we read where the disciples were getting down to particulars with the Master with these questions, “Do you want us to fast? How shall we pray? Shall we give alms? What diet shall we observe?”
His answer was, “Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate, for all things are plain in the sight of heaven. For nothing hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain without being uncovered.” So, just like Jesus Himself, you cannot burry truth. Oh, you may attempt to, but count on a resurrection to the light. None of us will ever avoid truth, even when delayed, and we will never escape the truth of Messiah, no matter how we say we don’t believe.
Observance of ritual, even prayers, fasting and giving to the poor are not ahead of knowing the truth about yourself and removing dishonesty from your soul. Later in the same chapter, the Anointed One referred back to the questions by saying, “If you fast, you will give rise to sin for yourselves; if you pray you will be condemned; and if you give alms you will do harm to your spirits. When you go into any land and walk about the districts, if they receive you, eat what they will sit before you, and heal the sick among them. For what goes into your mouth will not defile you, but that which issues from your mouth—it is that which will defile you.”
Our world has elected to teach tolerance for lies rather than stick to truth. This “tolerance” means we accept lies by calling it “their truth” and allowing deceit to rule them. Such tolerance leads to acceptance, even by society, that a lie can be an acceptable alternative. We have come to a point where making someone feel good by supporting untruths just to avoid making them angry or protecting ourselves has multiplied agony and tyranny like a rapidly-growing bacteria.
How do you know if your truth is worth fighting for, or imposing on another? Ask the important question; has your version of truth stood the test of time, history and formula for success? This is why we have the ancient writings to rely on. We have the view from the origination of truth to compare with results. Do the questions of life and truth the Master brought to answer them, fit correctly?
It is amazing how some with contemporary ideas about how to live are so contrary to solutions we have known for thousands of years! There are some in our time who want to make history a lie to cause a different outcome in our present and future. Making history a lie only makes relationships now a lie; relationships between government and people, between religious leaders and followers and even between people. Without knowing the truth about ourselves, how can we change? How will our flaws be overcome? If we tell ourselves how great we are without actually accomplishing greatness, how will we ever attain it? If we cannot admit the truth about our faults, how can we overcome them? If we know history is being altered into a lie, how can we avoid repeating the truth of it?
While we face the truth of our humanness by aligning our faults with the perfection of truth, something has to come between those vast differences. This is where John 1:17 gives us critical information so we can dare make the comparison. The statement is, “…truth and grace came into being by Jesus Christ.” Truth is brutal; grace is the cushion that allows us to connect with truth so we can become more like the Master.
For you who don’t believe that Yeshua, Messiah was the personification of Truth, consider these questions. What did He ever say that was a lie? What did He ever do that was not done in absolute and total truth? Is your truth above His? It is if you don’t accept His truth. Even if you don’t believe in Christ’s mission, can you live in love outside of truth? Do you believe that your life is complete while living in lies?
How truth enters your life is another serious consideration. Truth need not be rude, boast or force its way into your life, but lies do. Lies arrive by force, rumor, accusations, trickery, misconceptions and temptations. Lies masquerade as truth to boost ourselves above who we actually are. Remember the lies used to convince Adam and Eve that going against God wouldn’t hurt them? What have you been told wouldn’t hurt you, or that everybody is doing it?
Then there’s the arrival of truth in a manger. How strange that sounds. You would think something so critically important to all humanity would be announced on a grand and imposing scale. Yet, introduction of grace and truth through a humble setting, acknowledged by the wise and despised by liars, was God’s way of giving us the keys to success among ourselves and with Him.
Evil ones, or those whose souls are controlled by nothingness, continue to reject truth, just as Herod the ridiculous did when he heard truth was arriving in his jurisdiction. Like Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection, the Child had to leave for a while but wasn’t gone for long. Remember, Herod had to ultimately face truth, as do we all.
No matter how you say His name, or what degree of belief you have in Him, He is Truth in flesh. And if you can’t handle His truth, then you will be bound to fumble with lies until that day when you no longer can resist. Truth always wins, and there is an eternity for that to happen.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining; until He appeared and the soul felt its worth. Until He came, we were trying to come to truth through the Law, but we just couldn’t live it. Then He appeared, and we came to know just how much we were loved, and how far we had been separated from God.
God knew there was no way to have a relationship with Him through lies, and He so wanted a relationship with you that He sent the perfect example of truth so that relationship is possible. Our truth doesn’t impress Him much, but His truth does. Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her truth, love’s pure light.
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, amen.
©2013, J.Tilton
