The Power of the Truth
Truth is in jeopardy. It is being questioned at every turn as if it were a lie. Rather than seeing truth as an objective reality, our world wants to see truth as a subjective preference. Because of this, we start to feel that it becomes our responsibility to defend the truth that we know, but how can something that is inherently true by nature need to be defended so fiercely? Augustine of Hippo, a theologian, and philosopher who greatly impacted the face of Christianity, said this statement in regard to truth: “The truth is like a lion. You do not have to defend it. Let it loose, and it will defend itself.” What he said many years ago, is still true to this day, and in its own way, it establishes the credibility of truth itself.
The assault on truth began in the garden of Eden. From the very beginning, the truth was attacked by its greatest adversary: doubt. In the garden, Satan planted this doubt in Eve when he asked, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden? (Genesis 3:1).’” This doubt sown into Eve caused both her and Adam to sin causing the course of humanity to be forever altered. Satan planted this doubt into the first humans at the very beginning, but this doubt continues to live in each of us when it comes to our perceptions of God and who He is. It is almost as if Satan is still whispering into our ears, “Did God really say?”
Ultimately, to do away with these doubts, we must stand steadfast in the truth. Even when the truth causes us confusion. Even when the truth is frightening. Even when the truth is beyond our understanding. Isaiah 55: 8-9 says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’” The ways of the Lord are beyond our understanding at times, and sometimes, we just have to accept that we are not meant to comprehend everything. In order to discover who He truly is, we must transcend our human understanding. To stand fast in the truth of who He is, we must transcend our preconceived ideas and theories and look to His Word for the truth of who He is.
In Psalm 103: 8-12, we can see the truth of God and who He is. In this passage, David proclaims, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Our God is compassionate. He offers us grace upon grace. His love for us abounds immensely, and it is unending. Our God grants us mercy and His love for us governs His anger against our sin. His love is as vast as the expanse of the sky, and he has chosen to cast our sin as far as the east is from the west. This is the truth of our God.
The next time that doubt starts to creep in, let us remember this truth about our God. Let us recall it the next time Satan whispers in our ears, “Did God really say?” Let us remember it so often that it becomes what we know and what we accept. Jesus said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32),” so let us know this truth and watch it set us free. Let us allow it to permeate our souls so that we not only know the truth, but we live in it as well. Once we know this truth, we must share it. We must spread it. We must unleash the “lion.” Only then will the world know the truth, only then will the doubt be erased, and only then will we see the world be set free from the lies it believes.
Written by Gabby Daniel