Point of reference – something that is used to judge or understand something else – Merriam Webster.
“Time just seems to go by so much faster these days”. How many times have we said this or heard someone utter this phrase? Time does seem to go by faster as we get older. I remember when I was a child, a year seemed like a long time. When I think about a school year, it seemed like it would never end. In current situations, a year goes by so quickly. In talking with others about this, life experiences, as they happen, give us a point of reference of time lapse that was lacking yesterday, (or yesteryear). Same can be said for spatial consideration. How many people have visited childhood places and were disappointed that their backyard or other area of recollection was not as big as they had remembered it? Does anything really change other than our perception? A day is still 24 hours long. An acre is still an acre.
The same could be said for truth. Truth never changes, just our perception of it based upon our point of reference. Our point of reference is based on our world view of experiences in life and the amount of information we absorb. We can maintain a Biblical world view to guide us, or we can latch on to those physical points of reference that can change our perception. The Bible tells us in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” In our critical thinking selves, we should question our thoughts when they run contrary to God’s will. Why do we think the way we do, what influences our desire to accept something as truth?
The further we get away from the will of God, the easier it is to change our point of reference. It can occur even without our knowledge. As we listen and observe life without a Biblical worldview, our mind begins to conform to this world. Another scripture in the Bible reminds us in Matthew 6: 22,23 “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” If we are focused on truth, we will understand the influence our points of reference have on us. We will genuinely seek the truth and accept what we find even if it isn’t what we want it to be. What is our motivation? Is it to actually seek truth, or bend truth to fit our view?
No one desires to be wrong in the way they think, or their view on things. Some tend to rationalize that your truth may be different than my truth. This helps them reconcile that although their view goes against what could be truth, they can still be right. In reality, truth is truth, we cannot bend it to fit our perceptions. While the world view based upon political leaning or a majority sentiment may influence societies point of reference, it cannot change truth. We cannot change what is, facts are facts, to attempt to do this only changes you and those who you successfully fool into thinking whatever you are spinning as truth.
I have no doubt that everyone desires to be right in their positions. However, it is a fallacy to surrender to the idea that truth can be manipulated to satisfy that desire.