Discovering "Truth".

As believers, we can say that the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God. The words that were written in it have surpassed all critics and are ascertained to be truthful and trustworthy. Scholars of the Bible have substantiated the veracity of it throughout the years and are worthy to note that it’s not just a work of literature created by different authors. It is real indeed a demonstration of God writing history in the affairs of humanity.

Yet even though we have this kind of understanding concerning the truths stated above, most of us are still left out as victims in life. We tend to stand out and defend the truths we have heard and agreed from God’s Word but when reality strikes against us, we begin to doubt about it, negating the capacity of that truth to stand and defend for us.

            Thoughts of uncertainty begin to creep in our heads. Frustration starts to diminish the truth we believe in. Anxiety and worry becomes so invasive. But good thing, we can glean simple points in a famous verse in the Word about Truth that can bring enlightenment to us as it is being presented in a simple yet relevant idea.

           We can see three points about how we can discover truth and how to let such truth be retained in the inner depths of our whole being in John 8:31-32. Let’s go to the first point.

And the truth shall make you free.- The essence of what truth can do in our lives is absolutely liberating. Truth cannot make you incarcerated by those thoughts of discouragement and disappointment. When you hold on to something that is true, no one can deceive you, mislead you or play tricks on you. The truth that you uphold can give you the courage and confidence to stand for it and fight for it when extreme situations arise. Jesus, as he was challenged by the Pharisees never yielded by their demeaning inquiries about him. He knows a validated source of truth where He can get the things that He’s saying about himself which the Pharisees didn’t knew. Well, He knew that truth alone cannot make someone free.  What you should do about the truth you hold is important, which leads us to our second point.

And you shall know the truth. –Truth is defined as something that is real and actual. It is something that has been proven. It is something that we have encountered and most of all, experienced. You cannot prove something to be true unless you have experienced it. It will make you a fool. The word “know” stated in this verse in the Greek term defines: the recognition of truth by personal experience; to perceive, realize, understand, gain knowledge; come to know; the knowledge that has an inception, a progress and an attainment. In respect to the vocabularies presented here, Jesus is addressing something. Knowing the truth is an unending discovery, it is a process that we cannot afford to skip. It is a conscious effort, a wilful choice to search, strive and prove it in ourselves so that such truth will be alive and embedded in our hearts as we go through life. The knowing, entertaining and believing of this truth does actually makes us free from prejudices, mistakes and false notions that enslaves and entangles our soul. And when we have proved that the truth that we’re learning out is validated by the results that are produced, it cannot be contested. That truth will remain in our lives. Jesus is the only one who knew that great experience with the Father. He cannot deny it. The Pharisees can’t nullify it. That knowing is the basis of his truth.  Jesus wants to point out the power of truth by knowing it can make someone free.

The essence of what truth is has been understood. The process to gain it is already explained. Now the question is, where and how can we gain truth in our lives? This leads us to our last point.

If you abide in my word, you are my disciples. – When he spoke this, he didn’t make it accidentally for the sake of the crowd that was persuaded by the authority of His words during that time as He was discussing with the Pharisees. He was trying to conceal something about these nine words that the Pharisees will never get. “Disciples” from the Greek term implies: to learn, thought with effort put forth. Far from the term “follower” that sometimes shoots up in our minds when we hear that word today. Jesus saw the relevance of this statement to us as present-day believers. He was expressing a certain event that happens when a disciple follows a teacher. He’s not just a follower. A disciple is a learner as well, that whatever he gets; he learns it and applies it in his everyday affairs. Jesus was so smart to hide this rich treasure behind these words. He knew that his earthly human presence will be transient, but His word which he has left for us will be permanent throughout the ages. And through His Word, with the power of the Holy Spirit, as we abide on it, we can grasp certain truths that we can lean and rely on and apply in life’s differentaspects. He wants to convey this idea from the context to us as if he was saying, if you abide in my word, you will learn indeed. And as you abide in my word, you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. His word is a great source of truth that we can claim freely, believe fully and receive unquestionably. Abiding on His Word will always introduce us to the greatest truths that we ourselves are entitled to receive through Christ.

      What’s fascinating about it, a shift happens after six chapters from this story. The truth that Jesus is telling about the word that he invites us to abide is He himself. But that’s another story. We’ll just stop here.

      That makes us become victors in life. When we realize to understand His Word and its powerful truth behind, we begin to break barriers and limitations in our lives and never live the same, normal life again.

      The verse in its totality leaves us an encouragement (as we identify with Him being His disciples) and a condition which entails a factual result;a result that is manifested when we abide in His Word always. And the verse is presented as well in the right way when we take it contextually. We began to discover truth at its finest. 

The Choice Is Yours.

       We are now getting closer and closer on the date wherein we as individuals will use the power of choice that will determine the destiny of our nation. A one-time big time event that will shake and shift the course of our country again. A crucial time where we as citizens of this nation cannot afford to become victims again, but rather use our minds to decide circumspectly in choosing the ones who are capable and eligible to do it.

       And as Christians, being led by His Spirit and people who know God’s Word, we are mandated to bring change as a part of this society that we’re living in. We cannot afford to treat this opportunity lightly. We must be confident that our votes as it will be casted and counted will bring a voice that will change the tainted image of politics throughout the decades.  We can’t be so blind and ignorant enough. Our future is at stake.

      Just want to share you some relevant tips that you can consider as you vote this coming elections before that indelible ink will be dropped at your fingers.

Be Watchful– Watching forums provided by Comelec and television networks and following news about these candidates will help you become aware of their capabilities (and weaknesses, as if they will show it) and what they can offer for this country to convince us why should we vote them. We must become vigilant about any move that these candidates will do. For now the only basis that we can consider to choose as of this moment is what we see about them. Observe how they deal and talk with people. Observe how they walk their talk. Observe how they run their lives every day on and off the camera. We don’t know them at all. But we can know it gradually by how they live their lives.Their action of life speaks louder than the words that they promise.

Be Intuitive – Choose people who have an integrity, aptitude and capacity that cannot be questioned. We don’t want to pick people who are hollow in their convictions and capabilities in life and government and how they relate with their environment. We can reckon it on how they’ve proved their service to the people as they served in government and people all these years. We must appoint someone that his/her life can stand qualified without any spot or taint of uncertainty.

Be Spiritual–We shouldn’t negate what the Word of God says about choosing the right leaders and eventually submit ourselves unto it. In the remaining days of the campaign period, spend some time to pray for the destiny of our nation and that we may have a truthful, honest, history-changing elections. Ask God for discernment to know and choose carefully the right person that He wants to appoint in this higher degree of authority in the land. God honours our prayers. He will not left it unanswered.

Be Educated– Ignorance is a result of unawareness. We cannot disregard the potential of having a great future because of our lack of knowledge today.  Especially to those registered voters that are young at age. A big chunk of the country’s registered voters belongs to these group. You can watch news or if you’re a reader, (read the Bible first, then) read well-known sensible newspapers. Or rather than spending hours in playing computer games or scrolling and posting other things in different social media sites, why don’t you use an ample time to educate and inform yourself online? The information that we need about the candidate’s whole self is just a click away. You have no excuse to be informed.

Be Logical -We cannot expect that the fruit that we will be harvesting is different from the kind of seed that we will sow. We need to have a guided formal principles to act that will guarantee the effect of what we will be doing today by selecting the eligible people to fill in those government posts. If an old system is prevailing from the former governance, we need to replace new ones with new ideas that will eradicate it. We cannot stay the same and expect for change. Why do you need to use something that’s worn-out and exhausted if you can replace it? Just saying.

Be Yielding – to your own convictions. Do not let yourself be convinced by those too-good-to-be-true or asserting commercials that you see in your TV screens, influence you with their opinions or bribe you with something so you can be persuaded. Never influence other’s conviction as well.  Learn how to respect other's views too. At the end of the day, you will give account upon the choice of candidates that you’ve chosen. Sleep with peace in your heart and settlement in your mind knowing that whom you’ve selected is the person you believe that will make the job accomplished.

       It takes a risk to trust them. Let us be also reminded that the candidates we will choose are not perfect. To reach on a destiny that we want to arrive, rallying our hopes and aspirations to let this country be changed is not enough. Believing in ourselves with the aid of the Almighty God and participating in what needs to be done is also necessary. They are not superheroes that will change the country and the system in one day. Let us be the change that we want to be for this nation. And we can make that change by voting WISELY.