Recently a top politician said “There is even an expression that there are three types of truth. Your truth, my truth and the truth. Truth is God’s Word.”
When I read that statement, my heart sank to the depths of despair. Are there really three types of truth? Have we as a nation sunk so low that truth has now become relative to our feelings and dependent on our own interpretations? I was deeply distraught. I sought solace in God’s word. What is Truth?
The Scriptures tells us this is the very question Pontius Pilate posed to Jesus at his trial.
“What is truth?” Pilate asked Jesus in John 18:38
The religious leaders had brought the charges against Jesus based on their own version of “truth”. They alleged that since Jesus had said He was the Son of God, He was guilty of blasphemy. The truth of the matter was that they wanted to kill Jesus because He exposed the religious teachers as hypocrites.
Jesus called them out as “whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.”[1]
Jesus also interfered with their business dealings. During Jesus’ time, the Temple was no longer a house of prayer. It had become a money-making enterprise, and the religious leaders were milking the people and making a handsome profit in the name of God. Then Jesus entered the Temple and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.[2]
To the religious leaders, Jesus had to die because they were losing influence, power, position and money. Power, position and money had become the religious leaders’ truths. So, they framed Jesus for blasphemy. They did not want to face the truths of their crimes and sins against the people and against God.
Pontius Pilate was not interested in their religious matters or the charges of blasphemy. He even knew that Jesus was innocent. However, he also had his own version of truth. He was appointed by Rome to maintain peace in Israel and to quell any rebellion in that troublesome region. This allegation of blasphemy was getting the Jewish citizenry hot and bothered, almost riotous.
Pilate’s job was on the line. The matter got out of hand when the Jews started shouting that “If you let this man go you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar”[3] This was no longer a mere religious allegation but a serious charge that Jesus was guilty of rebellion against the State, a crime of Sedition.
That was Pilate’s version of truth. He had to put the potential for rioting to an end, to safeguard his own position. So he ordered Jesus’ crucifixion. He was willing to put an innocent man to death.
However, Truth was staring in Pilate’s face and the religious leaders’ faces. Jesus’ is the Son of God. That was no lie. He was never interested in rebelling against Caesar. Jesus’ Kingdom was not of this earth. The Kingdom does not seek to control by force, violence or popular opinion. Jesus came to usher in the Kingdom of Heaven that will overcome all evil by Truth and the Power of Love. Truth is very calm in the face of the lies and false accusations. Truth is unwavering. Truth does not bend to popular opinion. Truth does not yield to fear, fear of violence of even death itself. Truth does not favour the strong and the powerful. Truth remains steadfast and its light shines brightly despite all the evil thrown at it.
Yet the powers that be tried to kill the Truth to cover up their sins. They crucified Jesus. But the Truth cannot be killed. Jesus rose up from the dead on the 3rd day and is alive. The truth of the crimes committed by Pilate’s authorities and the religious authorities against an innocent man, Jesus, is now uncovered and shown in the annals of history. The Truth cannot be hidden. Truth always wins.
The Greek word for “truth” is aletheia, which literally means to “un-hide” or “hiding nothing.” It conveys the thought that truth is always there, always open and available for all to see, with nothing being hidden or obscured. The Hebrew word for “truth” is emeth, which means “firmness,” “constancy” and “duration.” Such a definition implies an everlasting substance and something that can be relied upon[4].
In the light of our current political situation, the questions which always play in my mind are: can truth really prevail today? Can the facts be unhidden? Can the guilty be made responsible for their crimes? Is Jesus’ Word on truth only a historical fantasy? I had my doubts.
Then on the 23rd of August 2022, we witnessed a momentous event. The highest Court in our nation, the Federal Court, affirmed the decision of the High Court and the Court of Appeal. It held that our ex-Prime Minister was guilty in the SRC International case.
Corruption was exposed. The Federal Court was very calm in the face of tactical manoeuvres, and wrongful allegations. It was unwavering and did not bend to popular opinion. The Court showed no fear or favour in deciding the matter based on evidence and the truth. Yes, Truth prevailed, and justice was served.
That decision of the Judiciary gave me hope and renewed my faith in God. Yes, indeed what God said about Truth is real. God’s Word does not lie. No matter how long or difficult the road may be, the truth will always shine, and nothing can be hidden from the Truth.
Truth is constant and can be relied upon. Truth always prevails and always wins. There is indeed hope and a future for Malaysia. What if things change? There is this movement calling for pardon or judicial review just as there is also a petition against that. Things are still volatile. I do not know what the future will bring. But we know that there is a God, that He holds our future, and He holds our hand. His Word for Truth endures now, today and forever.
That’s the real meaning behind “Selamat Hari Merdeka!”
[1] Matthew 23: 27
[2] Matthew 21: 12
[3] John 19:12
[4] Got Questions: What is Truth?
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Re “Truth always prevails and always wins”
No. That’s mostly a fantasy, wishful non-thinking —not reality. Because most often the truth does NOT prevail in real life.
WHY does the truth typically not prevail? — Meet and get acquainted with “The 2 Married Pink Elephants In The Historical Room” … https://www.rolf-hefti.com/covid-19-coronavirus.html
Are you one of them?
(CAVEAT — only read the 2 pink elephant article if you’re GENUINELY interested in the truth and therefore “CAN handle the truth” …)
Isn’t it about time for anyone to wake up to the ULTIMATE DEPTH of the rabbit hole — rather than remain blissfully willfully ignorant in a fantasy land and play victim like a little child?