What Is Truth?
There was a woman, born a slave, who not only found freedom, but she embodied truth. That woman born Isabella Baumfree, in 1843 changed her name to Sojourner Truth. She had experienced much pain and suffering in her life, things that kept some slaves immobile to change their circumstances. Yet there was a truth arising in Isabella Baumfree that didn’t wait for a slave master to tell her she was free, she made her way into freedom. Her list of accomplishments are many, but perhaps what is most notable about Sojourner Truth to me is that she answered a question asked long ago:
Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? John 18:36 (KJV)
When being confronted with the issue of what to do with Jesus, Pilate asked, what was truth. He didn’t realize that he was looking truth straight in the eye. Isabella Baumtree, when confronted with this question had no problem determining what truth was. She began by changing her name to Truth and for the rest of her life she determined to live out truth. She was a leading abolitionist, persuading many slaves to join the Union Army to fight for their freedom. She joined the ranks of such notables as Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison, and Harriet Tubman.
However, her quest for truth did not end with the abolitionist movement. She also ventured into the area of women’s rights and became famous for her speech, "Ain’t I A Woman" at the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention in 1851. Sojourner also worked on initiatives to establish prison reform and fought for land grants for former slaves. She was the epitome of one who not only found truth, but. lived it!
For. the people of God, truth still speaks:
6 And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
7 Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
8 Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. Isaiah 49:6-9a (KJV)
Do you hear it?
Maria