THE TRUTH DIGEST: The Truth, What Is It?

Pastor Ampofo

A truth is what is believed to be true. If something is true, it is based on facts rather than being invented or imagined, and is accurate and reliable, but the context in which we are looking at truth is broader than this dictionary definition and permeates into every fabric of human endeavor and transcends the cosmic realms into the spiritual realm where the Almighty Jehovah sits on His Sublime throne forever and ever as the source and centre and judge of what is truth.

'The truth, what is it?' It was Pontius Pilate who asked Jesus Christ this question (John 18:38), but in his haste to act contrary to his conscience, as he decided to play to the gallery, could not wait to listen to the response Christ would have given, and for that matter, there is not a definite record of the definition of truth in the Holy book.

Mr. Yaw Anokye Frimpong Esq. in his attempt to answer the question, 'What is Law?' in the first page of his book entitled, 'Complete Principles of Business Law', quoted I. Kant, a German philosopher who said, 'The question 'What is Law?' might be said to be as embarrassing to the jurist as the well-known question 'What is truth'is to the logician',nevertheless, I am of the view that in practical terms,truth could be given a four-pronged definition:

Definition One
Truth is the spoken word of God- 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.' (Matthew 4:4). Biologically, humans and animals have several things in common, but spiritually speaking, mankind was made in the image and likeness of God. This means that humans have something in common with God, which animals can never have and that is 'spirit' by which we can have access to and communicate with God and dwell in His presence eternally.

Animals such as cattle, crocodiles and ants can live by food only, but man needs this spirit, which is nourished by the truth, the unadulterated word of God, 'It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak to you, they are spirit, and they are life.' (John 6:63)

Definition Two
Truth is anything that shows the right and only way. Jesus Christ declared, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.' (John 14:6). This statement is one of the greatest statements made by the Lord Jesus Christ during His ministry on earth. The import of the statement is that the truth is the way to God and it is embedded in His doctrine and way of life and anyone who wants to enter the eternal kingdom of God should follow His teaching and learn His ways. For that is the only way to go to the eternal Father of creation. It is as simple as that!

And this principle applies to every area of our lives and negates the philosophy that there are always two sides of a coin. At the toss of a coin it is only one side that wins (show up). The truth is and will always be one. The conscience, which signifies the presence of God in the very being of man, judges us whenever we attempt to wittingly twist or bend the truth against its promptings.

Definition Three
Truth is anything in conformity to the laws of nature which should not be changed. Any human practices that are man-made and do not conform to the laws of nature and are injurious to fellow humans are evil and do not stand on the truth. A typical example is the obsolete practice of burying chiefs with human heads in the olden days. In recent times many are advocating against such practices as 'trokosi' and female genital mutilation, which must be condemned by all and sundry.

Definition Four
Truth is anything in accordance with the laws of a particular society or nation.If a group of people or a nation has accepted to be governed by certain rules, regulations or laws,the correct interpretation of such in the administration of justice is the truth.Every nation or society has its own laws that determine what is right and what is wrong (dos and don'ts) or distinguishes the rights from the wrongs as touching every segment of life in that society. Administrators of justice in that society are obliged to work within the confinement(dictates or tenets) of those laws without fear or favour, treating all entities and persons as equal before the law.

As law is a sine qua non for the good governance of society, it should not deprive the people it governs of internal security. The bench should therefore not let the people have any cause to lose confidence in the judiciary.

Truth heals, liberates and lights up the faces of people even when they feel pains. It is the recipe for peace, reconciliation and progress.

To be continue

The writer of this article, Mr. Kobbi Ampofo is the resident pastor of Friends of Christ Ministry, former columnist at Ebony news, Gospel artiste and councellor. For any info contact us on +233279512614 or [email protected].