What Is Truth?

Do you know the answer? If you were asked this question by someone truly interested in knowing, how would you answer? And how would you answer the expectant follow-up question: “How do you know?”

Most Christians, in fact, every Christian I have ever asked, “Do you believe in absolute truth?” always reply, “Yes.”

When I ask, “Can you explain that to me?”, now is when I get the thousand yard stare.

Yesterday I wrote, “We must return to the absolute truth, ones we once held to be self-evident…”

What would that look like? Would you recognize it if you saw it? To do so would mean knowing what it is in advance, wouldn’t you think? One of my reader responses to yesterday’s devotional wrote:

    Your next devotional could focus specifically on what a return to “absolute truth” in America would look like. One thing that immediately comes to mind are millions of Christians and church leaders demanding the inalienable right to life be enforced in every state in our nation…and it seems much of “The Church” needs to repent for their many years of silence on this issue…

There is no way I could put all of that into one devotional, so I am going to dedicate all next week to exploring what is absolute truth and how would it manifest itself in the life of the American Church. I did, however, write a whole chapter on subject in my book Understanding Evangelicals: A Guide to Jesusland and I’ve attached that chapter to this devotional for you to read this weekend.

For now I will give you some preliminary information to prepare us for next week. First the Bible tells us, and in some instances Jesus tells us that He is truth. The Gospel of John starts with that premise:

    “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

Jesus’ whole purpose in coming to earth as a man was to be bring the truth:

    “Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’” (John 18:37b)

Of course we know Jesus was answering Pilate when he had asked Jesus if He was a king. And what was Pilate’s response? The same most lost people, and in too many cases rebellious Christians, respond to the concept of absolute truth:

    “Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?” (John 18:38a)

You may be thinking, “Oh Bro Dave, of course Christians know what absolute truth is!” Really? You’ll read about this in my chapter I’ve attached, but let me give you a peek. I quote Josh McDowell in my book:

    “Only 15 percent of churched youth disagree with the statement: ‘What is right for one person in a given situation might not be right for another person who encounters the same situation.’ In other words, 85 percent of churched kids are liable to reason, ‘Just because it’s wrong for you doesn’t mean it’s wrong for me.’ Their idea of the distinction between right and wrong is fluid, something that is subject to change, something that is relative and personal—not constant and universal.”

Eighty-five percent of churched children believe in moral relativism. Any ideas why that is? Here, let me help. Because the church, the pulpit and the pews, do not believe in absolute truth. Oh they believe in the concept but they do not live it nor do they defend it and in too many cases run from it.

Let’s review something I’ve covered in the past here. The truth Jesus speaks of is the Greek aletheia and it is a philosophical term that means “something that corresponds to reality.” An example is that it is absolutely true that you are reading this devotional right now. There’s no possibility of you just think you are; you are!

So what will this aletheia truth do for us? Of course our Lord Jesus put it best:

    “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” (John 8:31-32)

That is what we are going to explore next week; a truth that we can know and one that can make us free.

Jesus answered Thomas’ question and in this answer is the key to life:

    “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Are you trying to get to heaven without Jesus? You can’t! It is impossible! You don’t believe me? Let me give you a taste of next week; let’s simplify what I said.

I base my belief on Jesus’ words. It is He who said He was the only way, not a way, the only way to God the Father who art in heaven.

If that is not true then Jesus is a liar.

Do you believe that?

Or perhaps Jesus was a lunatic?

Do you believe that?

Or could it be that He is Lord?

Do you believe that?

You do well to believe this aletheia truth because everything begins at John 14:6; that is our launching point. If you cannot climb into that cabin of truth then you may not go on this ride with us.

Will you not believe on this Truth today? I pray you do.

Have a blessed weekend and please remember to go to church on Sunday.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2010 David Jeffers

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