Perceptions of truth are generally tied to a group of facts, details, or assumptions we believe. Many consider truth to be an ideology or belief system that we accept and ascribe to. While our view of truth tends to adjust over time, is there an absolute truth we can seek to know and adopt as our own?
We often react to new ideas, different thoughts, and revelatory insight with: “that’s not true,” “it can’t be” or “I don’t believe that.” Remember, Jesus “came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” (a) [see endnotes for Scriptures] So, let’s explore how we see and relate to truth.
God’s Reigning Influence
Scripture tells us: “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (b) How clearly we are able to see and know the truth depends largely on our situation and viewpoint. Let’s consider four conditions that can affect our ability to see and relate to truth, from the Scriptural standpoint of truth being “a city on a hill.” (c)
- Situation: If we look at a city in the distance, it can be in front of us. If we turn to the left or right, the city can be out of sight. Our receptive posture affects our ability to clearly grasp.
- Closeness: As we view the city from afar, the truth of its reality can be faint. The closer we get to the city and begin to comprehend its vastness; our perception of its reality improves.
- Clarity: Foggy conditions and obstacles can restrict our view of the city. As fog clears and distractions are removed, clarity begins to come and our approach into its reality can improve.
- Involvement: Entering the city and observing its function vastly improves our perception. As we partake of its reality and participate in its complexity, we can thrive and prosper in truth.
How well we accept the truth of God’s Kingdom reign in our life and participate in its reality depends on our situation, closeness, clarity, and involvement. When we actively participate in the influencing reign of God that exists in our day, we are able to participate in a blend of natural and spiritual truths.
Jesus identified God’s Kingdom reign as a function that is in the midst of our interactions. “Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (d) He answered the ‘when’ with ‘now,’ answering that God’s reign is not coming but is actually functioning now.
Jesus proclaimed: “Where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (e) His reign is more than in me or you; it is “in our midst, with us, and among us.” God’s reigning influence is observed and experienced in our interactions. The City of God and His reigning influence is actually functioning daily in our good, not so good, and bad interactions.
God’s reign is more than in me or you; it is “in our midst, with us, and among us.”
“Know The Truth”
As a child we tend to accept what we are told, assuming it is true. In our youth we begin to reason and question if and why what we are told is really true. We tend to accept or reject what we observe and are taught. Then as adults we tend to solidify our perceptions and changes are often difficult.
The circumstances and experiences of our early years can affect our ability to see or accept different views. Everyone is inclined to come to “know the truth” and partake of its reality in three stages.
- We begin to comprehend and accept various right and wrong aspects of truth.
- We begin to understand the working features of truth yet choose to not get involved.
- We begin to be convinced enough that we adjust our interactions, begin to reflect truth’s reality, and begin to function as a growing part of its glowing radiance.
Scripture encourages us to put away 
our early understandings, to enlarge our thinking and reasoning. (f) “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.” (g) After walking with Jesus for three years, the Disciples were told “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” (h) God always has more enlightening truth for us to comprehend.
God knows we are all in the process of accepting more of His guiding light and becoming more responsive to the insights He shares. We are still waking from our relational deathlike sleep and arising from our inactive participation; “Destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” (i)
Different circumstances can complicate everyone’s ability to clearly perceive and comprehend. It is like children cannot see and understand as adults, or adults as parents, or parents as grandparents. Our developmental season tends to keep us from clearly seeing what others plainly understand.
We must acknowledge that no one is able to fully know, experience, or see with perfect clarity in this life. (j) Yet, our ability to “see in part” (k) can improve if we are willing to adjust. As we grow and mature, our perceptions can be are more truthful and we partake of more aspects of “eternal life.” (l)
God knows we are in the process of accepting His guiding light and becoming more responsive to His insights.
Receiving God’s Truth
We want to receive the fresh light God is providing for our day. When we see and commit to the truth God is revealing, we mature into better expressions of His character, attitude, and personality. If we are not seeking, we tend to stagnate and can appear to be asleep, (m) living as dead people. (n)
God said “For I the Lord, do not change.” (o) While God is infallible and changeless, as offspring and children of God, we must be changing, growing, and maturing! Our ability to see and relate to truth should always be adjusting, improving, so we see more clearly and act more appropriately. (p)
The clearer we are able to see and experience God’s view of truth, the more accurately we transform into mature children of God. As we receive the additional insight God is sharing today, our attitudes and actions will look less and less like an overly self-centered child (I’m right and you are wrong).
Our active fellowship with God and each other should always be inspiring and enriching who we are. Each enlightening perception we receive impacts our attitude and the quality of our words and actions. Why stick with past experiences and early perceptions that may not apply to reality today?
The more we absorb “the light of life” (q) as God’s influencing reign in our day, the more we keep growing and maturing. God’s guiding presence is always near, not far from anyone. (r) Jesus said: “The Spirit of truth…will guide you into all the truth.” (s) God’s Spirit will guide us into all the truth we are willing to accept.
While yesterday was good, today can improve and cause our tomorrow to be greater and brighter!
Our active fellowship with God and each other should always be inspiring and enriching who we are.
a) John 1:11; b) John 8:32; c) Matthew 5:14-16; d) Luke 17:20-21; e) Matthew 18:20; f) Galatians 4:1-2; Ephesians 4:15-16; g) 1 Corinthians 13:11; h) John 16:12; i) 2 Corinthians 10:5; j) 1 Corinthians 2:9; k) 1 Corinthians 13:9, 12; l) John 17:3; 12:50; 1 John 5:11; m) Matthew 13:25; n) Matthew 8:22; Luke 9:60; o) Malachi 3:6; p) Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12; q) John 1:4; 8:12; Psalms 36:9; Matthew 5:14-16; r) Acts 17:27; s) John 16:13;
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
When We Arise And Shine author