“If my client was correct in what he wrote, and it is our contention that he was—then truth itself is on trial.”
from “The Resurrection File (Chambers of Justice Book 1)” by Craig Parshall
This is a quote from a book, where a trial was taking place to decide whether something published in a magazine was defamatory. The answer to that had to do with the quality of investigative work done on an archaeological dig that unearthed a 2,000 year old document related to the resurrection of Jesus.
The attorney for the defendant is saying that more is on trial than just the matter of defamation. The way things are lining up, the “real” trial is going to be about whether or not the resurrection of Jesus was a real event – or if it was a fraud.
Isn’t that the case for every single Christian?
In his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul writes –
The Resurrection of the Dead
1Co 15:12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
Paul says that if the resurrection never took place, then what we hope for – resurrection and spending eternity with Jesus – isn’t going to happen. And if that doesn’t happen, our hope is useless – and we are to be pitied more than all men.
Two questions –
first – do you share this hope to the degree that Paul did?
second – do you live your life as if this hope is the most important thing in your life?
This is the “Truth” that we should be living for.
And yes – it’s on trial every second of every day that we live.
And – people are watching.