“Perspective” is an interesting word. Taken from the Latin root per, meaning “through”, and specere, meaning “to look”; perspective is defined as the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance. Originally used to describe the way objects appear when viewed from different positions; (i.e. a far-away object appears smaller than the same object closer to the viewer) —today, perspective is used to describe how things are mentally viewed: point of view.
While we all would like to view things with the proper perspective, determining true relations and relative importance has always been a challenge. When Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate (John 18:28-40), Pilate interrogated Jesus about being king of the Jews, “Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Pilate responded with the familiar question, “What is truth?” Whether Pilate meant, “Why does truth matter?” or was asking, “How can anyone know the truth,” he struggled to find the proper perspective—and so do we.
Graphic from chaoticsoulzzz.wordpress.com
Does truth even matter anymore? One of the definitions of truth in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary — “a statement or idea that is true or accepted as true” — is troubling. “… Is accepted as true” suggests that truth is relative. The belief that different things are true for different people at different times is the antithesis to the Christian belief that there is an absolute truth ordained by God.
A relativistic/secular worldview makes truth a moving target, dependent on data that may have been manipulated to meet political or economic objectives. With this world view, what may be accepted as “truth” this week might be 180 degrees out of phase with beliefs twenty years ago, and what is accepted as “truth” tomorrow may be utterly absurd twenty years in the future, but absolute truth does not change like a weathervane.
The expression, “God wrote it; I believe it, and that settles it” is often mocked as a cliché, reflecting closed-mindedness. Non-Christians (and perhaps) some Christians have trouble believing that someone could have confidence in the Bible as the word of God. A better expression might be, “God said it, I believe it, and that settles me.” Generations of Christians have found that the Bible provides a firm foundation upon which to build their perspective, their frame of reference.
We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19 (NIV)
In our search for the truth, we pray for the transformation that Paul wrote about in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
America desperately need a reawakening to the hope-filled truth that God first spoke to King Solomon: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
Please join us in praying for America.
Blessings,
Bonnie & Don Sennott
www.becausehelovesuspress.com
Because He Loves Us Press 