This is truth.

Do you remember this farce?

What color is the dress? Social media lit up like Roman candles and most everyone I knew was talking about the dress.... Admittedly, I didn't care. Just picture the grumpy cat meme here and that was my thought on the dress. Oh, okay, I'll offer you the image.

Our world is filled with claims and propositions that purport to be the truth. Some are truth; some are not. In fact, our world runs on a growing premise that absolute truths don't exist. Interesting when you consider the simple truth found at every four way intersection in your local highway system. It follows that stop signs and red lights are a glimpse of 'absolute truth' in that they signal me to stop. I can say, "stop signs and red lights don't pertain to me; I can drive right through them!" My odds of dying just escalated ten-fold. Depending on the intersection, maybe one hundred fold!

Imagine if truth completely left our earth and we were left to figure out life on our own. How would we know right from wrong? Would it be possible to live with any level of freedom and assurance? Thankfully, followers of Jesus Christ have been offered defined instructions on how to proceed. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one come to the Father except through me" Fast forward to the trial and questioning phase of Jesus Christ in John 18 and hear Pilate's indecision on the premise of truth. Apparently, 'absolute' truths were not accepted or fashionable back in 33 AD either.

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king.

In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the

truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked." (John

18:37-38b, NIV)

We are two weeks into Lent and God continues to prune things away from us that dull our spiritual fervor. God removes, cynicism, anger, doubt, and fear. God replaces those detriments with peace, joy, and hope. Without hope, life turns into an unending tornado. Nothing is certain and nowhere can one find a stable place on which to stand. It becomes messy without the truth of scripture to guide and help. Here are just a couple texts of many that hopefully bring solace to troubled hearts in this world that continues to look like its on life support.

"Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures." (Psalm 119:89-90, NIV)

“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar." (Proverbs 30:5-6, NIV)

Let the truth of Jesus Christ set you free today. He can do it. (Insert happy cat meme here.)