Have you ever been talking with someone about the Lord, and they responded by saying, “That’s your truth; it’s not my truth.”
It’s as if they dismiss your arguments as simply an opinion — perhaps on par with claiming what kind of ice cream you prefer. But to you, what you are explaining about Jesus is “The Truth,” more akin to stating we won the Revolutionary War or that two plus two equals four.
How did religious claims get grouped with opinions where there is no right or wrong, rather than with other truth claims that can be examined and then confirmed or rejected? Could the reason be that people have rejected the true God and established themselves as the highest authority in their own lives? If so, is this not the very essence of how sin is defined?
The word “truth” means “that which is factual and real.” If God exists, then by the very nature of things, His assertions of truth are authoritative. After all, He is all-knowing and sovereign, and He does not lie. If I disagree with God, common sense and even a small degree of humility compel me to conclude He is right and I am wrong. What He says is true, and I must submit my understanding to His.
However, if there is no God, or if the god who exists is impersonal and impotent, then there is no higher authority for my life than myself. Thus, I can believe whatever I want to believe; I’m ultimately accountable to no one but myself.
The person who claims, “That’s your truth, it’s not my truth,” is making a crucial misjudgment. This is not a debate about my truth versus his truth; it’s about The Truth — God’s Truth. I’ve chosen to submit myself and my beliefs to God; the other person hasn’t. His disagreement isn’t with me; it’s with God.
Ultimately, he will understand this because he will be held accountable to “The Truth.” On Judgment Day, God won’t examine whether he has been true to himself, but if he has bowed before Jesus and confessed Him as Lord. That’s not just my opinion; that will be what is factual and real.
