One of the questions that is still being asked today is, "What is
Truth." Modern definitions of the word truth are..."That which is true
or in accordance with fact or reality; the body of real things, events, and facts; a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or
accepted as true." Although these definition may seem ambiguous, and
they are, they only define truth from a natural sense. For thousands of
years philosophers have been asking this same question, yet they are
limited to natural knowledge, therefore they can only define truth based
on their limited knowledge that emanates from the five senses. So, if
fact or reality is based on solely upon natural human knowledge, then
truth will never be found.
During Jesus' trial as He stood before Pontius
Pilate, He made a very important statement that goes beyond the sense
knowledge realm of the greatest philosophers, "...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 18:37) The latter part of Jesus' statement is very intriguing, "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." Notice
that this does not say everyone who hears my voice is of the truth. In
other words, many people may hear the Lord's voice but is does not mean
that they themselves are of the truth, that is, believe the truth,
accept the truth or understand the truth. We see this in Pilates
response to Jesus.
He is hearing what Jesus is saying, but still asks
the question, "...What is truth?..." (John 18:38) Now we know that
Pilate was a pagan and that he was spiritually dead, but why do so many
Christians who are supposed to have the Holy Spirit, the Teacher, living
within them reject the truth? What do I mean? Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life..." (John 14:6) and "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth."
(John 17:17) Jesus is truth! The Word of God is truth! However, in many
ways many believers treat the truth as though it is only nice
suggestions. Much of this is due to the erroneous doctrines of men that
are developed by those who do not really know Him, but know of Him. Many
say the Bible is the Word of God but claim that it does not do today
what it did in the past. Somehow, God gives man His Word, which is
truth, but it only worked in times past. God is unchanging, but somehow
His Word is.
Let's view these scriptures, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son
of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has
He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Number 23:19) "My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips. (Psalm 89:34)
"Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89)
Logically, if the Bible is God's Word, but what He
has spoken is only applicable to a dispensation, especially that of the
New Testament, then how can one say that Bible is relevant for today?
You can't because it would be a book of historic events that are time
dated or only a philosophy. Why should people teach and preach from the
Bible if God's Word doesn't work today? They shouldn't unless they want
to teach history or philosophy. Is truth not a constant from everlasting
to everlasting or does truth change? It certainly is from everlasting
to everlasting and it certainly does not change because Malachi 3:6
says, "For I am the LORD, I do not change..." and Hebrews 13:8 says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
So if God does not change with time and we believe
that He is from everlasting to everlasting, that He has no beginning or
end, then it is only logical to believe that His Word is the same. It
does not change with time, but what it said (says) is applicable for all
time. Truth does not change! So what is the problem? The writer of
Hebrews tells us the problem when it comes to accepting and believing
the truth, "For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to
them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed
with faith in those who heard it." (Hebrews 4:2) Although this is
aimed at the Jews who heard the gospel but rejected it, it also applies
to many believers today. When believers hear the truth if it is not
mixed with faith it will not profit the hearer which makes it easy for a counterfeit (a lie, the opposite of truth) to get place.
The apostle Paul had an experience along this same
line. In Athens he encountered some Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who
spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new
thing. In other words their were looking for truth but were limited as philosophers
are because they are limited to natural knowledge. The wisdom of God
upon Paul gave him an open door to preach Christ (the truth) by-way-of
an altar with this inscription, "To the unknown God." Although these philosophers
heard the truth "...some mocked, while others said, we will hear you
again on this matter. So Paul departed from among them. However, some
men joined him and believed..." (Acts 17:16-34)
The point in this matter is, believers need not see
to believe, they need to believe so they can see (the truth). Experience
is not the best teacher, the Holy Spirit is. As the apostle Paul say,
"Knowledge puffs up..." (1 Corinthians 8:1) However, Proverbs tells us
to "incline your ear to wisdom". (Proverbs 2:2) Why? Because wisdom is
spiritual and gives one the ability to use knowledge. So to understand,
accept and believe truth we need the wisdom that comes from the great
Teacher, the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, "If you abide (continue,
endure, remain, stand, tarry) 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) It is accepting God's Word without wavering, without questioning, but through faith that
God is able to perform what He said (says) He will do. When believers
accept God's Word without "Buts or what ifs" then they shall know the
truth and the truth shall make them free!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.