Ever notice how some people go to almost any lengths to avoid the truth? Some people get angry, some ignore you, some admit the truth and then turn away, some put a twist on the truth to fit their inner concepts and a very few gladly embrace the true facts and use them. John Adams was an American president and one statement of his rings out as a clear truth. He stated: "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." Another writer (Thomas Payne) wrote: "No man is prejudiced in favor of a thing knowing it to be wrong. He is attached to it in the belief of its being right."
What a wonderful thing it is that we humans are completely individual and very different from one another. Living and working together demands that we recognize the uniqueness of each person and learn to appreciate and support others in such a way that they know they are accepted. That does not mean they cannot or will not change - we all do change. The many experiences we have on a daily basis, added to the growth in learning and understanding, changes the way we think. We might make different choices once a change has been affected in our lives. Usually, though, we believe something because we really do believe it is true. If we experience some doubt, we are good at masking that and holding on to what we think is true. "Don't confuse me with the facts" someone once said - probably we have all said or thought something similar.
Most of the time, we live with our personal beliefs about that which we consider to be true or factual. We have our perception of truth or of fact. What is hard for us to accept is that our perception is just that - our perception and subject to error. It is the way we see things or understand things. We can test this simply. Just put your hand before your eyes. Depending on which way your hand is turned, you may say you see a concave surface or palm, four fingers with the shortest one on the left hand side of your hand and a series of lines on the palm (the ones palm-readers want to look at). A person sitting directly in front of you would tell you that you were wrong because he sees a hand with nails on the ends of the fingers, a convex surface on the hand and bumps on the fingers that you might call knuckles. He will also say that the smallest finger is on the right hand side of the hand. Of course, you are both correct, accurate and stating facts. But the facts differ because of your point of view or perception. By now you have found out that I was talking about the right hand and not the left. We need to learn to leave room for the perception or observation another person has, since truth is truth and facts are facts. Though the stated view is correct and accurate, it is not entirely complete. That is one of the delightful things about being human.
It is rare that we have all the facts about anything, but we will boldly tell the world that we do have them and they are accurate. We "know that we know!" That is due to an inner drive which we call ego or vanity. We hate to be wrong because it seems to indicate that we could be uncertain and wrong in any other number of things. When a professional hockey player makes a bad move - such as giving the puck away in his own zone - he can soon develop a reputation for being careless, or not thinking. Soon he is on the trading-block because people begin to believe he is prone to making mistakes all of the time. Our perception of the person is formed by the thoughts, ideas, or fears that swirl about in our mind - and not always by the actual detailed facts.
Yet, a fact is still a fact. Truth is still truth - no matter now poorly our perceptions driven by our inner self understands them. This is probably never more true than it is in religion. People are hypersensitive about religion, it seems. That is about "their" religion and religious beliefs. The Bible tells us that the Word of God is truth (John 17:17) and though all men be liars, God is true (Rom. 3:4). Those are absolute facts. Facts that are denied, attacked, discolored, slightly or not so slightly altered - and yet remain fast and true for the thousands of years that humans have existed. Various tribes, nations and peoples have been under a strong cloud of beliefs that are very difficult for them to deny or to turn from. Even great men of the Bible like King Solomon found it impossible in his life, to remain focused on the one real God and His truth. Solomon weakened in time and began to come up with reasons and excuses to worship along with his wives - including their gods and idols in his worship (I Kings 11:1-4). Like many others, Solomon would have loudly protested his innocence (Matt. 7:21). When we note that people who had direct access to God (in visions and guidance in how they conducted their lives) fell, then we can wonder how it is possible that we could stand. Solomon was said to be the wisest of all humans - but he made some terrible mistakes. That should tell us that wisdom is not given to humans and gift-wrapped somehow. God makes it available, but we need to dig for it and hunt for it as for diamonds or gold. ("line upon line, here a little and there a little" (Isa. 28:13). We are odd that way - if we have things given to us that require no effort on our part, we tend to discard and think less of those things. Solomon inherited a king's throne - he did not have to work or struggle to earn it. Facts are a little like that. They are more precious when we have to search for them.
Truth is a wonderful treasure. It is the result of having the right information and being able to retain and use that information. Since the Bible is the only source of true facts when it comes to spiritual things - that book ought to be our constant companion. Humans have discovered many of the laws of science. These laws include factual information and are to be treasured. Truths can come in various forms - not always recognizable as facts. A fact is truth, a reality or the true state of things. Truth is broader and is described as faithfulness, constancy, veracity and agreement with reality. It can be that which is true according to the facts. Facts are more like pearls of truth which when combined make up a whole or complete truth. Jesus' disciples had a difficult time to accept the facts about His sacrifice, death and resurrection. Finally, the facts were so convincing that they were able to set their doubts aside. That is nothing to be ashamed about - it is a glory to God when a human being admits error or ignorance and embraces truth.
The book of Proverbs is regarded as a book of wisdom. Prov. 23:23 advises us to "buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding." We are able to form a character trait that cherishes truth and seeks facts. It requires an open mind, control of vanity and the ego, inquisitive mind, and great humility. When we treasure facts and thus truth, we will find favour with God and man. Our lives will be richer and much more content. Prov. 3:3 tells us to be sure that mercy and truth do not forsake us - and to bind them about our neck and write them on the tablet of our heart. That means we carry truth and love of factual information with us at all times. We recognize that a fact is a fact - and we are already inclined to change anything within our minds that contradicts that. The process can be called conversion -conversion from the way of this world to God's way. He does tell us to come out of this world (Rev. 18:4). Become a searcher of truth and of facts - and hold them fast once you have found them. Don't let go!