In a dinner discussion I had with my brother the other day, we tossed around the question of whether or not there is a difference between what is “true” and what is “truth.” When it comes to the messages contained in the Bible, that is an important distinction.

There is no doubt that our belief in the Bible is plagued by the seeds of doubt that arise from science and common sense. It seems that the more educated we become, the more we learn about the real-life examples we encounter, the harder it is to accept many of the passages of the Bible at face value.

The Biblical story of Jonah and the whale seems a little far-fetched to be true. While it is certainly possible for a whale to accidentally trap a human in its mouth, swallowing is another matter. Living in its stomach for three days is certainly an impossibility. Suffocation would likely end that story long before three days. So, is the story true?

Even more familiar is the story of Noah and the flood. The stories of floods and the disastrous consequences certainly exist in most cultures. It would probably be common for a family to try to save their livestock in such an event. But, a pair of every type of animal? Assuming that Noah and his clan lived somewhere in the middle-east, we can only wonder how he would have rounded up those kangaroos and koalas that are native to Australia. Finally, we would find it hard to imagine enough water to cover mountain tops. So, is the story true?

Then, we have the story of Moses, receiving the Ten Commandments from God while camping out on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights. While the story suggests that the stone tablets, engraved with those commandments, were written by the finger of God, we have to concede that 40 days was probably enough time for Moses to have done the job himself. So, is the story true?

The Bible is filled with such tales, each with its own degree of built-in questionable detail. Each has its own element of missing information or lost context. Like the final stages of assembling a jigsaw puzzle, even with the gaps, there is enough of the picture revealed to recognize the message.

And, perhaps that is the key to answering the ultimate question – true or truth?

Once we look beyond the inconsistencies or questionable elements of these stories, we are able to recognize that the fundamental truths are revealed, regardless of whether or not the specifics of the story are true.

Perhaps, like that jigsaw puzzle, it is up to us to fill in the blanks by exercising faith and recognizing that truth is, not only different from true, but ultimately, more important.