If Truth exists it is wholly true and irrefutable. If it does not exist, its nonexistence is not true, therefore truth exists, and must exist to say it does not.
Todd Beal
♦
I struggled for many years to independently find proof of truth. As stated in My Story, I have sought truth my entire life.
I will never forget the moment I first heard that some people believe that at best truth is relative, and at worst, truth is non-existent – my heart sank. I initially thought, “How could someone truly believe that?” So, for years I tried to argue that “this” or “that” is true and “this” or “that” is untrue, hoping that somehow, someone would see the reasoning in my examples and put two and two together, but eventually I accepted the inarguable; “Truth is not widely accepted.”
I instantly became angry. I suppose one could say I faithfully followed all 7 stages of grief. I felt helpless, asking myself over and over, “How can I prove that truth is not only absolutely true but also irrefutable?” Of course, not being versed in formal philosophy, I was unaware that proving God’s existence and proving the existence of absolute truth has held a captive audience since before the time of Jesus. Even Pontius Pilot, the Roman governor who ultimately decreed Jesus’ crucifixion in approximately 33 AD, rhetorically asked Jesus in John 18:38, “What is truth?”
I immediately made it my mission to see truth wherever it manifested: logic, reason, scripture, fact, philosophical discourse, everyday statements, work methods, religious doctrine, mathematics, physical construct, astrology, personality, etc. I told myself, “If truth is absolute, I will eventually find its unbreakable signature.”
To my shock, even “Christians” deny everyday truth. For instance, I could ask, “The object that lies in front of us, is it a table or a door?” Someone will inevitably answer: “It is a table if I perceive it as a table, a door if I perceive it as a door.” So, even Christians sometimes believe truth is relative and not absolute. By convincing ourselves that truth is relative to our perceptions, we let ourselves believe we are the makers of truth, not the other way around.
I made my first breakthrough with the following definition of truth: “Truth is the source of all non-contradiction, the wellspring of life.” This showed me that truth contains no contradiction because Life contains no contradiction; the reason being, contradiction leads to death because no two things can occupy the same “space” at the same time, even ideologically. I made my second breakthrough in discovering the law of perception: “The ability to perceive is non-existent if something cannot ‘be what it is’ separate from perceiving it.” This proved to me that something ‘is what it is’ whether I perceive it as such or not, hence it removed human intervention from the equation.
To accept this fact, and this is the scary part, we must admit that truth “is what it is” and we have no say in the matter, but naturally we reject this, because to do otherwise means we lose our perceived control over truth. Ah, but just the point we need to reach in order to receive truth. Truth reigns supreme over all things, why… because Truth created everything – literally everything – and continually sustains the existence of everything. Truth is, and all it is not within (including us), isn’t, and soon will have never been. Isaiah 65:17 [NASB] says, “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” Whether you believe in truth or not, whether you believe it is relative or absolute, ‘it is what it is’ separate from our ability to perceive it as truth, and it will do what it will do separate from our approval.
This awesome reality makes you, you, and me, me, a table, a table, and black, black. It gives us 1 + 1 = 2, the universal equation of pi (π) – the constant ratio of any circle’s circumference to its diameter (3.14, or 1/7) – and also the constant ratio of physical time and space (Einstein’s equation, E = mc2: Energy = Mass X ‘the Speed of Light’ (approximately 186,282 miles per second) squared).
Quite simply, truth provides us with irrefutable constant certainty, including the ability to know the experiential difference between the façade of kind action and the truth contained within selfless love.
Contrary to popular opinion, we are not in control over truth; truth reigns supreme over us. If you were God and at some point created something, your existence would not depend on whether or not your ‘intelligent created being’ believed that you in fact created it. You created it, period; that is a fact independent unto itself.
So, ultimately, does it really matter if we believe in absolute truth? If truth exists, regardless of whether we know it exists or not, what does that mean for us in everyday life? It means everything. If I walk in front of a moving school bus – weighing in at an average of 14,000 lbs – my life, at that moment, does not depend on whether I believe or disbelieve the impact will kill me dead. If I don’t move out of the way the bus simply kills me. Likewise if truth exists, if truth created everything and is therefore absolute, then my belief, or disbelief, does not determine whether truth possesses sole power over my immortal/mortal existence, my eternal life or death. It simply possesses that power: It is what it is, a fact independent unto itself.
My final breakthrough was the discovery that truth’s existence is arguable only in favor of itself. I found that truth is self-proving and is therefore irrefutable: “If Truth exists, it is wholly true and irrefutable. If it does not exist, its nonexistence is not true, therefore truth exists, and must exist to say it does not.”
So, in the end, truth is not an intellectual proof, albeit it exists as intellectually provable. Its existence is not dependant upon our belief, or disbelief, that it does or does not exist. Truth does not pause to ask your approval before continuing to exist. Truth is what it is, and through your own free will you have two choices from which to choose; accept it or reject it. And consequently, before leaving this world, your ultimate answer will determine whether truth makes you whole or destroys you forever.
I have at last found my proof of truth – it is within my heart, within my mind, within my soul; it is my life, my very breath of existence. Truth lives absolute and I accept it as is. Truth is forever, for even time itself exists as truth wills it.
I pledge my life to Truth! At long last, will you?
Truth Behind Reality 
I’d love to add to this. But, alas, you covered it pretty darn well. As one who likes to mix things up a bit, I quest for logical faults. While far fewer people debate plain physical truth compared with philosophical truth, they do exist. A table can be used as a door, for example, but it is still a table. Conversely a door can be used as a table, but it is still a door – not because of function but because it was created to be a door. We try to re-imagine ourselves all the time. That’s called hypocrisy. Some of us go so far as to pretend to be the opposite sex, but we almost all dress to impress to get or keep a job. We are a society saturated with sitcoms and movies and drama of every type. One of the greatest examples I can think of actually comes from the movie Galaxy Quest. In that movie the bad guy reveals to the hapless alien friends of the hero that he’s an actor. He “pretends.” We are so accustomed to pretense that it is little wonder society has a hard time grappling with truth. We have so-called reality shows, but they are still pretenders. God hates whoredom, at least in part, because the whore pretends at what she is and does. Its a falsehood and God is Truth.
Gee, and I didn’t think I had anything to say. Hehehe. Thanks for the post, Todd. Great as always. 😀
LikeLike
Lance,
| A table can be used as a door, for example, but it is still a table. Conversely a door can be used as a table, but it is still a door – not because of function but because it was created to be a door. We try to re-imagine ourselves all the time. |
I agree. Regardless of intent, truth dictates that something is what it is. You may intend a table to be a door, and vice versa, but in the end it is either a table or door, regardless of original intent.
If I, as a woodcarver, intend to artistically carve a piece of cherry wood into a sculpture of Mohamed, but instead succeed in creating a magnificent depiction of Jesus Christ, my intention means nothing, for the end result shows Jesus. Something is what it is apart from our desire or intent. That is why I take such issue with Christian husbands that say, “Self-development is not my thing. Only wussy men pay attention to that fluff stuff.” Ironically, these are the very men that serve in the church, yet verbally abuse their wife and children at home. They do this not because they want to, but because they choose to. Men in general regard personality (self-development) as fluff, and consequently disobey Christ’s command as given by the apostle Paul in Ephesians 5:25 (ESV), “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her…” So long as a man disregards his God-designed personality, he simultaneously disregards and abuses the personality God designed for his flesh and blood, his wife.
Regardless of what we imagine truth to be, truth is what it is and does not depend on us to continue its eternal existence. Truth says, “Something is what it is” apart from intent or belief, apart from logic, reason, or imagination, apart from us. Reality exists in the form it exists because truth makes it so, and nothing can change that reality apart from truth.
Great comment Lance, and thanks for the affirmation.
LikeLike
Indeed ‘TRUTH’ does exist! And we are to stand in the truth. IT is OUR first article in our ARMOUR!
Ephesians 6:13-14 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;…
Great thoughts on a great topic.
Thanks’
E.T.
LikeLike
Well said E.T., and thank you.
LikeLike
Great post, Todd. I believe that truth is “in and through all things”. It is evident but not necessarily proven in the observable laws of physics and the consistencies revealed by the scientific method. We say that “what goes up, must come down” is true because it’s always happened like that in our perception. Jesus showed us that we shouldn’t depend so much on the observable for our truth. His very first miracle in Cana not only served to promote the faith of those in attendance in his day, but it continues to teach us “moderns” about the nature of truth and God’s knowledge. Even today, with all our technology, we can’t turn water into wine without added ingredients. Scientists would argue that the elements necessary to create wine simply do not exist in water. To me, this means Jesus did one of two things: He either used natural laws that we are still unaware of to effect the transformation, or he transcended all laws and rearranged the atomic structure of the liquid in what we would say is an impossible way. But obviously, if he did it, it’s NOT impossible. Maybe only Jesus is capable of “impossibilities”? By his own word, he blesses YOU AND I with the potential to accomplish the impossible when he said “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do” (John 14:12).
What we can see of truth now seems like the tip of a huge iceberg, and I for one appreciate the reverent way that you go about exploring the marvels and mysteries of what is revealed to us!
LikeLike
| “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do” (John 14:12). |
If truth is in us, there is nothing we are incapable of if He wills it.
Michael, I appreciate your ability and willingness to recapture the meaning of this post. I am also very grateful that you receive my life’s work with so much thoughtfulness. Your sincere affirmation inspires me to accept and proclaim truth even more. Thank you.
LikeLike
Great thoughts expressed here Todd. I don’t think there is anything I can add.
There are very few people in this world who really care to know truth. They are quite satisfied with shades of grey and like to be able to change them around to suit their circumstances. However, whatever shade they choose does not alter the fact – except in their own minds.
LikeLike
| However, whatever shade they choose does not alter the fact – except in their own minds. |
Absolutely, absolutely! This statement is the very thing that drives me to understand and proclaim truth. Truth is what it is, and the sooner we accept that fact, the quicker we gain freedom.
Thanks, Angela.
LikeLike
Thank you for a great post.
LikeLike
You are welcome, cevon. Thank you for reading.
LikeLike
Pingback: Does Truth Exist? | Pragmatic Witness
Lets see if we can break this down to the basics. Truth cannot be proven. Truth is only self-evident. Only facts can be proven. For example to testify under oath to tell the truth and only the truth is not exactly right. One can only testify as to the facts.
An example of a self-evident truth, and there are many, is a perfect circle has no ends. Now, this cannot be proven because man cannot construct a perfect circle, but in our minds a perfect circle has no ends. Another self-evident truth is two parallel lines will run parallel to infinity. Cannot be proven but self-evident.
A door, a floor, a chair, etc. etc. are all man made. All man made things are abstractions. They do not exist in the real world of nature but only in the mind. Man through his thought takes natural materials and makes abstractions. A chair may be make from wood of a tree or metal from the earth that are reality from nature (truth) and are make into abstractions, chairs, which are facts. Facts are common sets of beliefs agreed upon: A chair is a chair is a chair, but in the natural real world only wood, metal or some natural element from the real world.
God or Gods are truth and cannot be proven, but is self-evident. Man, a product of nature has created God in his mind, just like a chair, an abstraction, which does not exist in the real world of facts but only in the abstract world of infinity.
LikeLike
“If Truth exists it is wholly true and irrefutable. If it does not exist, its nonexistence is not true, therefore truth exists, and must exist to say it does not.” Truth proves itself.
LikeLike
I really appreciate your article.
I have also dedicated my life to seeking truth. I have no idea why it has been the most important thing in my life, all of my life. I often seemed to be the only person I knew who actually believed there was such a thing as absolute truth and made the effort to find it.
The search was as important to me as breathing. It was not something I decided to do. It was something I had to do. Actually it has been more important to me than breathing, because when I find some truth, I am willing to die for it rather than compromise such a pearl of great price.
My life has been spent on the quest and I am 71 now. It has been a frustrating and richly rewarding journey. I would not have missed it for this world; I have found a better world.
When I was very young and started the search, I started in church. The churches compromised the truth and I could not understand how a group of people who claimed to believe in Christ did not believe what the Bible said about Him. They did not believe in miracles. They were very “educated and scientific” in the 1950’s and looked for rational and scientific means to explain away the miracles. By the time I was 19, I knew for certain that they did not believe what they were professing to believe and I looked elsewhere.
I would find something that seemed good and true; but as I studied it and considered it I would find deep flaws. The New Age is all about Magick and Miracles but no one tries to explain them away. As long as God and the Bible are omitted, it seems a person can believe anything without repercussion. Absolute Truth stands the test, it does not fall apart on closer inspection.
Words were deliberately changed and used to confuse us. God was not the God of the Bible, but whoever they decided God was. They believe that man is God and man creates God in his own image. I spent a lot of my study time finding out how they were defining words that seemed familiar but had entirely different meanings than I had supposed. I have read thousands of books in my search.
After many years of searching, I came back to the Bible. The One Book that matters and found that I saw Scripture very differently at 50. I told God that I would read the Bible and accept it as true; if I did not understand it, then I would assume it was my immaturity and not His need to do things my way. It changed my life. He began to show me things in Scripture that I had never been able to understand before. It is a very supernatural book. I know now that miracles really do happen and I am willing to admit that the fact that I cannot explain how God does things does not make God unable to do them. I just have more to learn and further to go on my journey. I enjoy the journey now.
The most difficult part was realizing how much we have been lied to and how often and by so many. We have been born into a world filled with lies, taught them in our homes, schools, churches and governments and coerced into agreeing with them if we want to succeed at high levels. I was horrified. I literally felt sickened and disgusted by what I discovered. For a while, I thought it might destroy me because everything in my belief system was being taken apart and found to be based on these lies. I was overwhelmed.
I held on to Scripture and learned to depend on the Holy Spirit to guide me through it all. Truth would replace the lie as each was discovered. Fear receded as love and life flowed into me.
After many years of delving into this, I can deal with it better now. We really do live in a fallen world and I accept it now instead of thinking that something that evil could not exist; I know it can and does exist. The Bible says how evil this world is and I finally had to accept the fact that God knows what He is talking about.
Learning the truth and standing up for truth is a demanding quest and has been the best possible use of my life. I happily anticipate my future and love to see what He has planned for me today and forever.
LikeLike
Elizabeth,
| The search was as important to me as breathing. It was not something I decided to do. It was something I had to do. |
It is the same with me – see My Story. It is awesome to meet someone who also has that built-in burning passion to know Truth deeper and deeper, purer and purer. It is truly the soul crying out for the Living Truth of all ages, Jesus Christ and his personal signature in everything.
Thank you very much for sharing your personal ongoing journey. Would you be okay with me posting your comment as a standalone post? People need to hear your story.
Thank you for your contribution Elizabeth.
Todd
LikeLike
Todd,
It would be fine to post my comment as a standalone post. I hope that it is helpful to someone.
I just read your story. It is very difficult when God puts us through things where everyone and everything we depend on is taken away. There were times when He took everything in my life away and I would feel so lost and confused and devastated. Then I would find that He was giving me new and more suitable people and things to go along with my new level of maturity in Him. Now, when it happens, I know that it is just the next step on the journey and I trust Him while I go through it. More importantly, it gives me no one and no thing to depend on except Him. As my relationship with Jesus Christ grows deeper and deeper I really do find that He is more than sufficient. I can’t imagine life without Him 24/7. He is my foundation, my guide and my best friend.
I studied everything also as I looked for the truth. It gave me a discernment that I needed to sort through things that sound good at first, but are just empty imitations of life and truth.
I have been reading your articles and I would agree that clear spiritual insight is better than clear eyesight. Your eyesight gives you the ability to see but your insight gives others the ability to see.
I find your writing to be food for the soul in a world that is dying of starvation.
God is blessing you so you can bless others.
Keep up the good work,
Elizabeth
LikeLike
Thank you for this. I appreciate your wisdom and encouragement.
LikeLike
Pingback: Elizabeth’s Quest for Truth | Truth Behind Reality