“To those involved in a dying world, Satan will come with evil’s undiluted power to deceive, for they have refused the truth which could have saved them. They see truth as a lie and the lie as truth. They accept the lies of the devil.”–Billy Graham

Jesus is the truth and sin keeps us from the truth. But what is truth?

According to the dictionary, truth is “conformity to reality or actuality; a true statement. That which is real in a deeper sense; spiritual or genuine reality; a true thing; a verified fact; a true statement or proposition. An established principle, fixed law or the like; as, the great truths of morals; righteousness; true religion; to assert as true; to declare.”–Princeton’s WordNet–Wiktionary–Webster’s Dictionary

But is truth “absolute/universal?” When someone defends their actions and when asked if they are “lying”, they normally say “that is the absolute truth” whether they are lying or not.

According to the definition of “absolute” truth, it is something that is true at all times and in all places. It is something that is always true no matter what the circumstances. It is a fact that cannot be changed.–Wikipedia

“Tolerance has become the one cardinal virtue of the postmodern society, the one absolute, and, therefore, intolerance is the only evil. Any belief in absolute truth is viewed as intolerance, the ultimate sin. Those who deny absolute truth will often say that is is alright to believe what you want, as long as you do not try to impose your beliefs on others. But this view itself is a belief about what is right and wrong, and those who hold this view most definitely do try to impose it on others. They set up a standard of behavior which they insist others follow, thereby violating the very thing they claim to uphold (another self-contradicting position). Those who hold such a belief simply do not want to be accountable for their actions. If there is absolute truth, then there are absolute standards of right and wrong, and we are accountable to those standards. This accountability is what people are really rejecting when they reject absolute truth.”–www.GodQuestions.net

“There are three evidences for the existence of absolute truth. First, there is the human conscience; second, science; and third, religion. Religion is really evidence that mankind is more than just a highly evolved animal. It is evidence of a higher purpose and of the existence of a personal and purposeful Creator who implanted in man the desire to know Him and if there is a Creator, then He becomes the standard for absolute truth, and it is His authority that establishes that truth.”–GotQuestions.net

“Society no longer cares about the truth. It doesn’t matter what one regards as “truth” just as long as they are sincere. Truth is subjective, society says, and it is up to each individual to decide for themselves what is right and wrong. We need to remember that anything other than the truth needs to be rejected. Our culture shuns authority and looks down upon biblical values.”–LivingWaters.com

This appears to be the mentality of our society today–a lack of conscience to do what is morally right. Doing and saying what you want without regard to whether it is absolute truth or not. A world without a conscience would be a dangerous place to live.

If that is the “truth”, then lets look at what the Word of God has to say about truth (NIV translation):

John 14:6: “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 8:31-32: To the Jews who believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 16:13: “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. he will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

John 4:23-24: “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”

I John 3:18; “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”

II Timothy 2:15: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Ephesians 4:15: “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.”

Psalm 25:5: “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.”

Psalm 86:11: “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth.”

From these scriptures, we absolutely determine that there is a Creator who will lead us into all truth which is Jesus Christ. Jesus never changes and the Word of God points us to the way, the truth and the life.

When I first thought of writing about “truth”, my first thought turned to the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Then I asked myself, what does “inalienable” mean. According to Vocabulary.com, it is “something that is yours forever, that can’t be taken away and given to your little brother. The word refers to a ‘natural’ right that cannot be revoked by an outside force.”

If that is the case, then Christianity (Salvation) is for all believers–that which is given to all and cannot be taken away by any outside force.

The Word of God is our compass in the world we live in today. It gives us the directions and information on how to live a life pleasing to God in every area of our lives.

Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

May we try to live in the truth as we follow Jesus’ teachings and apply them to our lives daily.

Blessings,

Yvonne