“Kung tinutupad ninyo ang aking aral, kayo nga’y tunay na mga alagad ko; makikilala ninyo ang katotohanan, at ang katotohanan ang magpapalaya sa inyo.”

Juan 8:31–32

Malamang narinig mo na ang linyang ito sa legal-themed movies, “Do you solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and you will keep secret all of the proceedings of the grand jury conducted in your presence? So help you God”? Sa court of law sinasabi ito tuwing may isasalang sa witness stand.

Outside the court, para malaman mo ang katotohanan, magri-research ka. Halimbawa, if you are in a relationship, kapag nag-sususpetsa ka na may unfaithfulness na nangyayari, ang una mong ginagawa ay maghanap ng ebidensya. What do you do? Some people check their partner’s social media private messages or even emails. May iba, nagha-hire pa ng private investigators. Karamihan kasi sa atin, maghahanap hanggang sa may makita to confirm or to disprove our suspicion.

For us to know the truth, we have to look for it para hindi tayo malinlang ng mundo. Sabi sa 1 John 5:20, “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.” He Himself said in John 4:16, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Hindi lang Siya ang buhay, Siya din ang katotohanan; at Siya din ang daan papunta sa Amang Diyos.

In seeking the truth, it gives us freedom. We are set free from the lies and deception of the enemy, free from the bondage of sin, and free from crippling anxiety and depression. To seek truth is to seek Jesus. Makakalakad at makakapamuhay tayo nang may kalayaan kung alam — o kilala — na natin ang Katotohanan.