WHAT IS TRUTH? Part 2

     Spiritual darkness hung in the Praetorium like a dense fog. Black wisps of demonic hordes flitted about and entered the minds of the Romans. Heavy oppression compressed the lungs while heaving chests squeezed out air, and eyes clouded over with great deception.

    Pilate rose from his seat of judgment and strolled toward Jesus, shaking his head at the insanity of the bogus trial, and this condemned One’s refusal to defend Himself. “He only mentioned truth,” he mumbled, “and bearing witness to truth.” His brows furrowed. Nearing the place where Jesus stood, Pilate looked Him in the eye and said in a condescending tone, “What is truth?”

 

Such an amazing question! And, one we need to know how to answer because TRUTH has been deemed relative for quite some time now. In other words, your truth may not be my truth. But this thought is just a regurgitation of Israel’s sad state of affairs, “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”[1]

 

As believers, we know TRUTH is not relative. We know TRUTH is:

 

#1. Jesus

#2. God’s Word—our Bible

#3. Human limitation and constraint for worshiping our Triune God in spirit. (See Part 1)

 

But let’s examine one more element of TRUTH:

 

#4. TRUTH as a belt.

kidsworldag.blogspot.com

 

“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth….”[2] This is the first piece of armor God gives to those who repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you surprised? I am.

 

But why does God tell us to gird our waist with TRUTH before anything else?

 

To gird means to get [your] self ready or to fasten something on, such as a belt. Some commentators suggest a belt was necessary because tunic-style clothing would hinder movement in battle. A belt around the waist could secure the skirt so the person would not trip.

And wouldn’t Satan just love to engage us in battle before we have TRUTH firmly in place so he can trip us up?

 

KJV uses the word “loins” for the word “waist.” The loin region is below the waist and between the hips, the area of procreation. Our offspring desperately need their parents to KNOW God’s truth and model it in the home. What’s more, the Lord told the Israelites to eat the Passover Lamb with loins girded, sandals on their feet, and staff in hand, ready to move at a moment’s notice.[3]

 

Still, our battle is NOT physical. And we cannot ready ourselves for war against spiritual hosts of wickedness if the belt is anything other than TRUTH.

 

Unlike actual war, we fight an unseen enemy who uses flesh and blood people like puppets. Sometimes the enemy uses an outright attack with force or words. But mostly, it’s subtle and indirect, with planted thoughts about ourselves or God and the Gospel.

 

Satan’s lies can and will manipulate, cause weariness, uncertainty, and unwarranted sympathy toward the enemy. If we let down our guard because we are not clear on the truth of Jesus Christ, confusion escalates, doubt and deception enter, apathetic tolerance takes hold, and we back down.

 

Without us insisting on absolute truth [the condition of the heart and where they’ll spend eternity], the lines blur.

 

We become weak in battle, vulnerable and confused. The enemy’s lies begin to sway us, play on our emotions, and cause us to consider their objections to the gospel. At that point, Satan is free to plant a thought, “Who am I to think only I have the truth? Maybe I am wrong.”

 

DOUBT is Satan’s deadliest arrow, and without TRUTH, we’ll never see it coming.

 

TRUTH is JESUS Christ. TRUTH is absolute. So, take God’s Belt and walk in TRUTH.[4]

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[1] Judges 17:6; 21:25

[2] Ephesians 6:14

[3] Exodus 12:11

[4] Ephesians 6:14a; III John 3-4