Mark Twain wrote: “Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't.” His statement might seem unclear, even confusing because we naturally think of truth as being based on facts, and fiction as being based on whatever our human mind wants to make up. But the idea of strangeness, that which is surprising unanticipated and unfamiliar, is truth that comes to us from beyond ourselves, and outside of our own human limitations.
This is the point that G. K. Chesterton makes when he says: “Truth must necessarily be stranger than fiction; for fiction is the creation of the human mind and therefore congenial to it.” So when it comes to recognizing reality and truth, we must be aware that what is true might be stranger than anything we could have imagined.
The truth that we discover in natural revelation (the universe and reality in which we live), and the truth that we discover in special revelation (that which God has revealed to us in his Word), are both accurate and consistent with each other but definitely stranger than any fiction produced by the limitations of the human mind.
One example from creation is that we are living in an expanding universe. This is undeniable incontrovertible observable fact. Putting aside the question of time frame that seems to be involved in this expansion (which makes people nervous for a variety of good reasons), the strangeness of this expanding universe is that it does not seem to be expanding from some particular point. Wherever you are in space, everything is moving away from you. The reason for this is that space itself is expanding. It is something like a small balloon with dots all over it. As you blow the balloon up, all of the dots are moving away from each other in perfect symmetry. The distances between galaxies and stars is increasing because space itself is expanding.
That is a pretty strange concept. But no stranger than the fact that the God who created this expanding universe has come into it in the person of Jesus Christ as the God/man, in order to reveal and share his life and love with the people on this planet. From the manger to the cross, this was a strange way for God to behave towards his rebellious creation.
This new year will filled with many strange, surprising and unanticipated things. And what God intends to do is unbounded because of the limitless possibilities of who he is. What will be most important as we move into the unknown strangeness of a new year is that we are knowing him.
And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent (John 17:3).
