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Think Outside the Box

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"My kingdom," said Jesus, "doesn't consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. But I'm not that kind of king, not the world's kind of king."

Then Pilate said, "So, are you a king or not?"

Jesus answered, "You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice."

Pilate said, "What is truth?" (John 18:36-38)

Maybe Pilate was cynical and hardened from years of playing tiresome political games and assigned to govern in a place where most people hated his guts. Or perhaps his patience ran out because he knew if he kept up an exchange with Jesus, he would lose. Most likely it was a little of both, but I believe deep down Pilate truly wanted the answer to one of the most important questions in the universe:

What is truth?

This is not a question about mathematical facts, like "Jesus, does two plus two REALLY equal four?" This isn't about scientific certainties, like "Lord, if I jump off the roof 1000 times, do you think at least one time I might fly upwards?"

This is a question about the nature of reality, as in "Jesus, you talk about truth as if it was real and absolute…could this possibly be true?"

You see, I think Pilate was a pretty intelligent person. I also think that he had thought about this question many times before, and like many others he probably came to a couple very strong conclusions:

First, to not believe in absolute truth is illogical. To deny an absolute is to make an absolute statement. To claim there is no truth is saying: it is a truth that there is no truth! This just doesn't work.

Second, to not believe in absolute truth is impractical. Without it, all you are left with is relative truth, which really isn't truth at all. Relative truth is a squishy spongy worldview that just adapts to whatever situation you put it in. For example, what if it's "true" for me to break into your house and steal your ipod just because? I don't think you would appreciate relative truth at that time. In fact, you would be glad that there is an absolute thing in America called the law with trained professionals around to back it up. This is why relative truth is so impractical, because any decent society will eventually crumble under its weak foundation. The world saw the most horrific example of a nation that convinced itself of her ability to determine truth. It was called Nazi Germany, and at some point the idea of relative moral truth turned into a philosophy of selfishness, which in the end created a culture of death.

So absolute truth exists and we need it. The critical issue is, where do we find it?

Maybe inside myself. That's it, I'll create absolute truth with my own thoughts and ideas. Except that, I'm a limited human being with limited intelligence. How could I know everything and be the source of what should be true for all people everywhere for all time?

I can't. So I know what I'll do - I'll discover truth through my 5 senses. What I experience and discern from the world around me will be truth. Except that then my truth is limited to my little world with my little experiences. Again, not quite the good source for absolutes.

So I'm left with one option: seek the truth outside of me, my world, even the universe. In other words, to find absolute truth you must go to the Source. The eternal God who created the universe, who knows everything, and has all power is the only One with the authority and knowledge to generate absolute truth.

And He did.

It's called the Bible, and it is His gift to a world in desperate need of absolute truth.

Hear me clearly on this one folks. I'm not saying *I* have absolute truth. I'm not saying my church or denomination has it. I am saying that the clear statements in the Bible are clear examples of absolute truth. It's important that you know that everything is not relative, that absolutes exist, and they can be found in Scripture. The bottom line is that to find truth you must think outside the box and look inside the Book.

Sad and ironic, isn't it? Pilate was looking into the face of Truth even as He asked "what is truth?" Even more sad and ironic for Christians, who look for truth all over the world when their Bible sits on the shelf.

Maybe it's time for you to absolutely wake up, grab your truth brush, and scrub the relative plaque off your soul!

Head: What you need to know about this truth

Absolute truth can only be found in a source outside of ourselves and our world, which is why God's inspired word - the Bible - is absolute truth.

Heart: What you need to feel about this truth

Many people think that they are the source of truth, or that they can find it through their five senses, but as we know, we can easily fool ourselves or be fooled by what we take in.  That's why you should feel grateful that we have a source of truth, and motivated to read it often so that we avoid falling into the "lie traps" Satan sets for us.

Hands: What you need to do about this truth

Seeking the truth is one of the most important things in life.  This week, keep specific track of how much time you are investing each day in reading God's word and talking face to face with the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6)