“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”. John 8:32 CEV

Contrary to much current thought, there is universal truth. Our forefathers knew this when they penned the declaration of Independence:
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” …

The truth of the words remains, the fact that they were applied by their authors strictly to white men notwithstanding. Nonetheless, truth doesn’t always seem to be very clear-cut. Pilate’s question to Jesus, “What is truth? (John 18:38, CEV), is a question that’s been asked many times throughout the ages. As Christians we at least say we believe that Jesus is truth (John 14:6), but often find ourselves in sharp disagreement regarding anything beyond that point. And yet, that’s an important unifying force.

Though we may not now (or ever) agree on the specifics of what constitutes the truth, perhaps we can agree to pray that Jesus will open our hearts to it, no matter how painful it is, no matter the preciousness of our beliefs that need to be set aside in deference to it. My mom used to say that truth hurts–& she’s right–it often hurts a lot. But just like surgery, which is initially painful but often eventually curative, the application of truth, though at first painful, provides us with freedom, because being imprison by falsehood often causes wasted, and at times lost, lives.

I’m going to meditate this week on the verse that began this post, and I’m going to pray that we as individuals and as a nation will unite in a fervent search for and being open to the truth. I pray you’ll join me, and I pray you’ll ask your friends to do so as well.