What is truth? This is an age old question. Wikipedia states that “truth is the property of being in accord with fact or reality. In everyday language, truth is typically ascribed to things that aim to represent reality or otherwise correspond to it, such a beliefs, propositions and declarative sentences.” Google defines it using the word itself which is circular but states that it is “that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality.”

As most of you know, we currently have such a division in our country over so many issues and I feel quite certain that a majority of those who have an opinion on any of these issues think their perspective is accurate and true. How can two opposing views both be true? Yes, there are those who are purposefully distorting the facts or what a majority of people have considered reality for many, many years. A majority of us who are willing to do any kind of fact verification are aware that there are sources of information on both sides of an issue that say they are giving the true facts. How can that be?

Jesus was on trial at the end of His time upon this earth and one of the men who could have set Him free was Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of that area. After conversing with Jesus and asking Him several questions, Jesus told Pilate that the kingdom He represented was not of this world and that He was a king representing another kingdom. He then stated that He came to bear witness to the truth and that everyone who is of the truth would hear His voice. Pilate answered Him by asking “What is truth?” He realized Jesus was not guilty of what the religious leaders were accusing Him of and wanted to let Him go, but political pressure and pleasing people overruled what he had concluded — “I find no fault in Him at all.”

Jesus stated earlier in His ministry that He was “the Way, the Truth and the Life.” And yet very few really believed what He said. Ultimately, almost every single person forsook Him before He gave His life for them so that they could ultimately find their way back to Him.

If we have no absolutes then we can have no conclusive evidence of truth in any area that we may be trying to find answers that will help us navigate through life. What is there to trust in or hope for if everything is relative and situational? I realize that many people are right there in their lives.

Many religions and philosophies call Jesus a good man or even a prophet. They consider Him one of the Higher Masters because of His exemplary life and example. But He Himself stated that He was God on more than one occasion. Either He was the greatest liar or deceiver that ever lived or He was who He claimed to be. Many have studied and even tried to mimic His life but find it impossible to do, outside of coming to a place of humility and realizing only those who are willing to allow Him to live His life through them can even come close to the life He modeled while here upon this earth.

What is so amazing is that Jesus stated, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set (or make) you free.” Strong’s concordance enlightens us to understand that the word John used (John 8:31) for “know” is “the knowledge that has an inception, a progress and an attainment. It is the recognition of truth by personal experience.”

Sobering words are spoken by the apostle Paul who penned a letter to the church in Thessalonica. He is talking about the second return of Jesus and the great apostasy or falling away that would happen during that time period. 2 Thess.2 9-11 states: “. . . because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie.”

People will believe something. For many years I have prayed and told the Lord I wanted to have a love for the truth, no matter what the cost. I have yet to pay a great price for the things I believe are truth but that could easily happen in the current climate of intolerance. There is a price to pay for truth. “Buy the truth and sell it not.” (Prov.23:23) If you do not think there is a price to pay for truth, just begin to defend and speak out on an issue that you believe is true and you will see that there are those who oppose your view. 

Sometimes standing for a truth can cost you significantly. There are licensed physicians right now who are losing their jobs because they are taking a stand for what in the past was considered part of their job description but it is contrary to the established protocol and position currently being promoted. It may cost them their livelihood and some of them knew that when they began to speak out. All of them that I have listened to were not prepared for the vicious way they have been treated on numerous fronts. Freedom of speech is supposed to be part of our rights as citizens of the United States and yet censorship is becoming much more prevalent in these last few months.

Some things that people believe are just plain laughable — but the person really believes those things. However many of us have believed some things that were untruthful because of misinformation or ignorance. The scripture states that “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” I don’t ever want to promote something that does not have verifiable documentation — but, I probably have more than once by taking someone’s word for something without doing my own research and then passing it on to others.

There are many who believe a lie, because they did not believe the truth. Perhaps they were not willing to pay the price for standing for truth. Perhaps they just denied the evidence surrounding the facts. Or most likely, they did not have a love for truth and be willing to do whatever it takes to find out whether something is true or false.

Examine your own heart or as the scripture states: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my thoughts.” (Psalm 139:23) Ask the Lord for a desire to know the truth and then let the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit lead and guide you into all truth. (John 15:16-17, 26; I John 5:6-8)