Choosing Truth Over Facts

Choosing Truth Over Facts

John 8:32; 14:6; 17:17; 2 Cor. 5:7; Hebrews 11:1

Theme: Authentic facts point to God’s truth; we must live by God’s truth and not mere facts…by faith and not by sight.

Relevance:

John 8:32, says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Accepting and actively living by Christ’s teachings provides a deep spiritual awakening (salvation) that breaks the heavy chains of sin, fear, and spiritual blindness. God also delivers us from spiritual confusion when we believe Him instead of our circumstances. Facts are subject to misleading manipulation leading to greater sin, darkness, and bondage, but embracing God’s truth is freeing, liberating, and life transforming!  

So, choosing God’s reality over the visible or empirical world is defined as faith. Hebrews 11:1 states: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Rather than relying strictly on physical observation or human scientific measurement, biblical faith treats God, His word, and unseen spiritual truths as the ultimate foundation of reality.

Introduction:

The Jews did not know the truth, and they were in a terrible form of bondage. They were in the bondage of ignorance, error, sin, law, and superstition. Those who truly know the Lord Jesus are delivered from sin, they walk in the light, and are led by the Holy Spirit of God.^[1]

Jews who had believed Him indicates that some paid attention to Jesus’ words without necessarily committing themselves to Him personally (cf. 6:53). It was possible to “believe” in the message of repentance and the coming kingdom without being born again. Continuing in the truth is the sign of true followers and learners (disciples). If they really grasped His message, they would find salvation truth. Knowing this salvation truth would liberate them from their bondage in sin.^[2]

The idea of ‘truth over facts’ entails prioritizing God’s statements, a deeper, overarching Bible principle, or a divine reality over objective, verifiable data. While facts are strict, measurable bits of information, we view God’s truth, a Bible-based experiences, or an essential takeaway as having higher significance; we know these realities transcend individual data points.

Please Note these Core Differences:

• Facts: Objective, provable, and independent of personal feelings (things like statistical data, IDs, digital driver’s licenses, diplomas—university degrees, or documented events).
• Truth: Personal value placed on God, Jesus Christ, revelation—His statements/promises, core Bible messages, or God’s higher purpose.

Truth is absolute, unchanging reality rooted in God’s perfect character. He does not merely speak the truth; He literally embodies it. It is revealed through His unchanging nature, the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus Christ, who stated, “I am the way and the truth and the life”.

The distinctions can be summarized by noting the differences between Scripture and Modern Science. Believers should always base their lives on truth and only on ‘science’ where it agrees with ‘truth.’

But not everyone agrees, “Critics argue that dismissing data in favor of a preferred narrative contributes to Truth Decay, undermines shared objective reality, and opens the door to misinformation and bias.” (The Dangerous Mindset of My Truth)

However, I would much rather disagree with mere people, than to be at odds with God!

Again, it has been noted, “Generally, truth decay is a cultural condition marked by a shrinking reliance on objective facts, data, and analysis in public life. The term describes how opinions and personal beliefs increasingly overshadow verifiable facts.” (The News Literacy Project, Jennifer Kavanagh)

While I do not advocate in any way adopting a ‘My Truth’ mentality, I must insist that we believe an honest God regarding anything He says…especially when God’s Truth contradicts human data, research, or credentials.  

Lesson:

First Note Key Bible Passages on Faith and God’s Unseen Reality!

1. Hebrews 11:1: Defines faith itself as the solid proof (substance) and conviction (evidence) of realities that human eyes cannot detect.

·       Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass.

·       Faith must have some revelation from God, some promise of God as its foundation. It is not a leap in the dark. It demands the surest evidence in the universe, and finds it in the word of God. It is not limited to possibilities but invades the realm of the impossible. Someone has said, “Faith begins where possibilities end. If it’s possible, then there’s no glory for God in it.”^[3]

2. Hebrews 11:3: Account for creation in this respect: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” This establishes that the spiritual and spoken power of God preceded and produced the physical universe.

·       Faith is also a way of viewing all experience since it is the way in which believers see the universe (tous aiōnas, lit., “the ages,” also rendered “the universe” in 1:2) for what it is—a creation by God.^[4]

·       [B]elievers accept by faith that God created the physical universe out of nothing using His spoken command, originating visible reality from the invisible. (Bible Reference)

·       Things which are seen were not made of things which do appear means the material, visible world came into existence from an invisible source (ex nihilo, or out of nothing), rather than being formed from pre-existing physical matter. (Bible Reference)

3. 2 Corinthians 5:7: States the daily walk of a believer: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

·       Christ’s followers are called to conduct our daily lives and make decisions by trusting in God’s unseen promises and eternal realities, rather than relying solely on physical circumstances, temporary hardships, or human senses. The three Hebrew boys understood this perfectly in Daniel 3. The average ‘worlding’ will not appreciate thinking this way!

·       Not by “sight”: Refusing to let temporary physical obstacles, fears, or what is immediately visible dictate hope or obedience. Remember the temporary nature of our earthly bodies and the absolute certainty of an eternal heavenly home. Keep going because our ultimate hope is anchored in Christ and future resurrection, not what we can physically touch or see right now.

4. 2 Corinthians 4:18: Directs our attention past temporary physical metrics to eternal invisible truths: “While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

·       Believers must fix our focus on spiritual, everlasting realities rather than temporary, physical troubles. Visible, earthly things—including pain and material life—are temporary (temporal), while invisible spiritual truths like God's glory and heaven last forever (eternal). We must not give up despite intense suffering. Eternal glory makes present trials feel small and short-lived.

·       Paul compared the sufferings he had experienced, severe as they were (2 Cor. 11:23–29), to light and momentary troubles (thlipseōs, “pressures, hardships”; cf. 1:4). They were nothing in view of the eternal glory that would be his when he would be in Jesus’ “presence” (4:14) and would be like Him (1 Cor. 15:49; Phil 3:21; 1 John 3:2). This is amazing: all of his heavy, continuous burdens were, he said, “light” (the Gr. elaphron means “light in weight, easy to bear”; used in the NT only twice: here and in Matt. 11:30) and “momentary” (the Gr. parautika means “brief, for the slight moment, on the spot”). Though, as he wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:8, his hardships were “far beyond” (hyperbolēn) his ability to endure, he said his coming glory … far outweighs them all (hyperbolēn eis hyperbolēn is lit., “extraordinary unto the extraordinary”).^[5]

5. The Perspective of Faith (Truth) vs. Empirical Science Evidence (Modern Scientific Facts)

·        Separate Fields of Consideration: Scripture positions God as the Creator not as a hypothesis to be tested by the scientific method! He must be approached purely through trust and reverence (“without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”) Hebrews 11:6. Beloved, trusting God’s reality and goodness is the absolute requirement for any real relationship with Him.

o   The entire Christian walk is something that cannot function or start without reliance on the unseen.

o   Seeking God requires intentional, continuous effort through prayer, obedience, and looking to His promises rather than just passive agreement is a must.

·        The Source of Absolute Truth: Where empirical science relies on what can be measured, weighed, and seen, biblical reality instructs the believer to accept divine revelation as more certain than changing physical circumstances or human reasoning.

o   God’s Character and Word Define Ultimate Reality. Truth is not merely a changing human idea. It is a permanent standard rooted in God’s unchanging nature, meaning what God says is always real, right, and faithful.

o   God as Truth: Scripture describes God as a “God of truth” (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 31:5, and Isaiah 65:16), He cannot lie, His essence defines what is real, and He cannot break promises (Hebrews 6:18, Titus 1:2). God is the ultimate source of reliability and absolute truth!

o   Jesus as Truth: Jesus states in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” showing that truth is embodied in a person rather than just abstract rules. Jesus is the exclusive path to God, the ultimate source of divine truth, and the giver of eternal life, asserting that relationship with God is found only through Him. Jesus embodies the absolute and final revelation of God’s character and word.

o   Spirit as Truth: The Holy Spirit is explicitly called the “Spirit of truth” by Jesus Christ. He is promised as a helper who dwells with believers, teaches us, and guides us into all truth. As the Witness he confirms and testifies to the reality of Jesus Christ. As the Teacher he speaks only what He hears from the Father and the Son, leading people away from error deeper into Jesus, the Truth. (Jn 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 1 Jn. 5:6)

o   The Word as Truth: Psalm 119:160 states, “Thy word is true from the beginning,” establishing the Bible as an absolute, error-free standard for everyone. Beloved, God’s word is entirely true from start to finish, and His fair laws last forever. He does not lie or make mistakes. Everything He says is pure fact, from the first book of the Bible to the last. His word is absolute truth.

o   Truth is Immutable: God’s truth does not shift with time, culture, or personal feelings. It remains constant for all people.

Clearly, a believer must choose truth over mere facts. Facts should point to truth, but unfortunately facts can be manipulated or ‘cherry picked’ causing confusion and enhancing the darkness, lies, deceptions, and bondage. Truth has the power to make us free of sin and its influences upon our lives. Where the facts cannot be verified by the Scriptures we must go with Bible evidence or God’s statements—truth. For us God’s facts are the ‘alternative facts’ we must appeal to for authority. Though facts may enjoy a certain level of rigor and alignment with Modern Science, we still choose the Word of God first and foremost. Quote the Bible and let them fact check that!

 

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^[1] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1517.

^[2] Edwin A. Blum, “John,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 304–305.

^[3] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2195.

^[4] Zane C. Hodges, “Hebrews,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 807.

^[5] David K. Lowery, “2 Corinthians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 565.