Why My "Truth" Does Not Matter

A few years ago, a lot next to our home, which had been on the market for some time, was sold to an acquaintance ina our town.  As the new buyer was getting ready to clear some of the lot, he had drawn up a plan based on what he believed were the property lines.

I had my survey from when we bought our house, and he had his measurements and "knowledge" of where the property line had always been.

On more than one occasion, we both stood there, pointing at different spots on the ground, measuring, using apps, and each declaring our version of the truth. Finally, after a lot of back and forth, we had a professional come and look, and it turns out we were both wrong.  

The actual property line was in a completely different location than either of us had claimed; the one who was right all along was my wife. No matter how hard my neighbor and I tried to convince each other, the only version of the truth that mattered was the actual stake that was buried in the ground that marked off our property lines. Our individual "truths" meant nothing when confronted with the official, documented reality.

The Problem with "Your Truth"

We live in a time where we're constantly told to "live your truth," "speak your truth," and "follow your truth." It sounds empowering and liberating, doesn't it? The problem is that this way of thinking creates a world where everyone becomes their own authority, and ultimately, no one has any real authority at all.

When we each get to define our own truth, what happens when my truth collides with yours?

What happens when someone's "truth" tells them that lying to get ahead is acceptable, while your "truth" says honesty matters? What about when someone's "truth" justifies hurting others for personal gain, or when it leads to behavior that most of us would find reprehensible? What happens when someone’s “truth” tells them that one specific people group is not as valuable as another?

If we're all living by our own individual truths, we have no foundation for saying that anything is actually right or wrong. We end up at an endless impasse, like my neighbor and me, each convinced we're right with no way to resolve our differences.

There Is Only One Truth

Here's what I've come to understand as a part of my own Life Design: truth isn't something we create or define for ourselves. Truth is something we discover.

Jesus made this clear when He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Not "a truth" among many, but "the truth." Jesus was THE truth and wants all of mankind to know this.

Why?

Because in John’s gospel, He also said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." The way we come to know and learn more about this truth and experience freedom is by knowing God’s word, which stands as our unchanging standard of truth.

It's not based on our feelings, our experiences, or our cultural moment (sorry progressives). It's based on the character and nature of God Himself, who is TRUTH and “does not change like shifting shadows”.

When we ground ourselves in God's truth rather than our own subjective experiences, we have something solid to stand on. We have a way to navigate life's complexities and resolve conflicts that go beyond personal opinion.

What Happens When We Abandon Truth

I think about some of the most painful moments in human history, and almost all of them happened when people decided they could define truth for themselves. When individuals or societies reject objective truth and moral standards, the results are predictable and devastating.

We see relationships destroyed because "my truth says I deserve to be happy" becomes more important than commitment and sacrifice. We see communities torn apart because everyone's personal truth becomes equally valid, leaving no shared foundation for justice or reconciliation.

Without an anchor of truth outside ourselves, we drift wherever the current cultural winds take us.

The Freedom Found in Truth

Some people think that submitting to God's truth limits their freedom, but I've found the opposite to be true. Once I stopped trying to be the author of my own truth and started aligning my life with God's truth, it was then that I experienced real freedom.

There's incredible peace that comes from knowing you're not responsible for determining what's right and wrong for everyone around you. There's relief in having a standard that doesn't change based on how you feel on any given day.

And here's what's beautiful about God's truth: it's not arbitrary or harsh. It flows from His love for us and His desire to see us flourish. His truth protects us, guides us, and ultimately leads us to the life we were created to live.

Living in a "Your Truth" World

So how do we navigate a culture that's increasingly committed to the idea that everyone's truth is equally valid?

First, we ground ourselves daily in God's Word. We study it, meditate on it, and let it shape our thinking. We make sure our foundation is solid before we try to help others build on it.

Secondly, we live out God's truth in our own lives with consistency and love. Sometimes the best argument for truth isn't an argument at all, but a life that demonstrates the peace and purpose that comes from following God's ways.

The Surveyor Has Already Come

Just like in my property line dispute, we don't have to keep arguing about where the boundaries are. The Surveyor has already come. God has given us His Word, and through His Son, He has shown us what truth looks like lived out perfectly.

We don't have to create our own truth or defend our own version of reality. We can rest in the truth that has already been established and find the freedom that comes from aligning our lives with it.

The question isn't whether we'll live by some version of truth; we all do. The question is whether we'll choose the truth that sets us free or settle for the shifting sand of our own making.

Running the race with you

Carlos

This edition was first published in The Life Design Newsletter on LinkedIn.