Mark Twain wrote, “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.” I suppose he meant that truth often turns out to be something we would have thought impossible, while fiction grounds itself in the realm of possibilities. Fantasy may ask us to believe something we know is not true, but then must build a logical framework around it. We call it suspended disbelief and engage in it for the moment in order to enjoy the story.

I’ve often thought that my time would be better spent reading non-fiction, and I do read a lot of that. But sometimes I want a break and enjoy a good story. The thing about fiction is that you don’t have to wonder if it’s really true. You go into it knowing it’s only a story, though the author may use the story to communicate truth. There is a great deal of non-fiction out there that is mislabeled. It can be hard to identify which work deserves the designation.

But truth certainly can be stranger than fiction. Take the Bible for example. The strange things in there actually speak to its authenticity. The idea of a flawed hero is not unknown to us, but did you ever see such a collection of failures in one place? Yet God used all of them to accomplish His purpose. They are God’s successes. And what of Jesus, the central figure? He was without sin, but He was crucified. Some would say his mission had failed, but they would be so very wrong. He did exactly what He came to do, and in so doing He offered redemption to the world! He died in relative obscurity, but His teaching has revolutionized the world. And the strangest truth of all, He didn’t stay dead! We serve a living God, the Lord of creation, the King of kings. The day will come when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

God loved us so much that He sent His son to die for us. He did this before we knew Him. He did this even though we were His enemies. Some of us knew ourselves to be His enemies, others will come to understand it in time. The imperfect cannot stand in the presence of the perfect. Justice demands punishment, yet we are offered mercy. Many will continue to believe that this too is fiction, but it is the strange, amazing, unfathomable truth!

If you don’t know the Truth yet, I’d like nothing better than for you to get to know Him. His name is Jesus, and He awaits you with open arms. Turn around! Change your mind! Give yourself to Him as He has given Himself for you.

I would be delighted to talk more with you about this. You can contact me through this web site or via Facebook. I may not have all the answers, but I know where to look for them.