Hallowed Ground: What is Truth?
EDITOR’S NOTE: This devotional “What is Truth” (below) by author and media professional Billy Hallowell launches a running series of devotionals by media influencers and creatives from many platforms. If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, involved in faith-based or secular media and would like to contribute a devotional to Media on Mission, please email Alex Murashko at alex@alexmurashko.com. Thank you for your interest in Media on Mission Devotionals.
Hallowell shared in the introduction to his first devotional (first published at “Hallowed Ground“) that he hopes the devotionals will help readers to think deeper about the hope we have in Christ.
What Is Truth?
By BILLY HALLOWELL
Hallowed Ground
In an absolute fit of irony, Roman prefect Pontius Pilate asked Jesus this very question before Christ’s crucifixion, as captured in John 18:38.
There was Pilate standing before Truth himself, and yet, he was clueless, unable to discern the powerful reality before him.
Pilate, of course, had just engaged in a fascinating conversation with Jesus before posing his “truth” question.
“Art thou the King of the Jews?” Pilate said. Verses 34-38 show the continuation of that conversation:
Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?
Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.
Eventually, though, we know Pilate was persuaded to allow Christ to be crucified. He “washed his hands of it,” though it’s clear he didn’t recognize the truth — he didn’t understand it was the very God who created the cosmos who stood before him.
Had Pilate discerned this, he likely would have had a different posture.
Tragically, too many of us today are like Pilate. We find ourselves aimlessly pondering, “What is truth?” even when we know its essence deep down in our hearts.
And even when the truth hits us right in the face, we sometimes still deny it — but to our own peril.
See, the truth isn’t malleable or fluid — and it can never be determined by the person, only the Creator. There’s no “my truth” or “your truth.” There are beliefs, feelings, and whims. But there’s only one Truth.
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Journalist, commentator and digital TV host Billy Hallowell has covered thousands of the biggest faith and culture stories.
He’s written more than 14,000 articles on faith, culture and politics, has interviewed hundreds of celebrities, authors and influencers and is the author of four books. Find out more about Billy here.
