What is Truth
Lynn Austin writes, “My five-year-old son had been looking forward to visiting the planetarium on vacation. But when we arrived, we learned that children under the age of six were not allowed to enter. Austin said, “Let us pretend that you have a birthday today. If the ticket man asks how old you are, you say, “I’m six!” Austin made him practice until her son sounded convincing then they bought the tickets without problem.
Later, at the Aquarium there was a large sign that read, “Children five and under admitted free.” Austin admits, to avoid paying the admission fee I had to convince my son to forget his pretend birthday. The consequence of my lie became apparent as we walked up the steps to the aquarium, with a worried look on his face my son said, “Wait a minute Mom, how old am I now?”
Here, a five-year-old is already struggling to keep his head above water. Only God knows how many lies have created harm to humanity. Discerning and believing truth have been a struggle. We live in a world that believes in a thousand different stories and a thousand different truths. No different than Pontius Pilate who asked those now infamous words, “What is truth?”
Leonard Sweet in his book, “Soul Tsunami,” a book that was written in 1999 but is so current to today writes, “The speed of life is leaving skid marks. Scientific information doubles every 12 years. General information doubles every 21/2 years.”
Our present information age and Hollywood make discerning and believing truth a challenge. Movies like, The Blind Side, Hacksaw Ridge, Hidden Figures and Braveheart say they are based on true stories. But do you ever wonder what portions of these movies are real, and what portions are filled in? Or when issues are debated on TV, do you ever wonder if those who are presenting their case believe what they are saying is true? Or are they simply paid to present an opinion to the world? Do you question the news you hear wondering if they are presenting facts, or an opinion that fits their agenda?
Unfortunately, we live in an age where information comes to us quickly. Could it be that we struggle more than any other generation to discern and believe what is true?
The ultimate source of lies and deception is found in our enemy the devil. He wants to confuse and defeat us. This is evident all the way back to the Garden of Eden when the serpent asked Eve, “Did God REALLY say you can’t eat any fruit from the Garden?”
Eve replied, “Of course we may eat it. It’s only the fruit from the tree in the center of the Garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said we must not eat it or even touch it, or we will die.”
The serpent hissed, “You won’t die! God knows that your eyes will be opened when you eat it you will become like God.”
Very tempting “Knowing everything, both good and evil.” Of course, we know the result: they ate, sin entered the world, and this has caused ramifications for generations to come. The numerous lies and deceptions in our day reveal the enemy is alive and well, trying his best to defeat us by confusing us.
In John 8:44 Jesus describes Satan this way, “He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks he lies for he is the father of lies.”
Who is the ultimate Source of Truth? Our Lord Jesus Christ! In John 14, shortly before His crucifixion, Jesus comforted His disciples by saying, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in Me.” Jesus spoke these words shortly before His disciples would witness His arrest, conviction, torture, and death. One could only imagine what was stirring in the disciples’ souls when all this was going on.
For those of you who are encountering a very painful and scary season in life, and you do not know how it will end up, I have good news for you: our Lord Jesus is the source that helps us keep our heads above water. Jesus says to you… “Do not let your hearts be troubled. believe in God, believe in Me.” If you struggle to believe, as I do at times, ask Jesus to help you in your unbelief. Know that to see Jesus is to see the Father. To encounter Jesus is to encounter the Father. Jesus is the true character, the true Nature of God in human flesh. He is the way, the truth and the life, not just a way, a truth, a life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.
Oh, may we more fully grasp who this Jesus is. In this informational age, we are tempted to treat all opinions as equal. When we treat all opinions as equal, we find it hard to keep our heads above water.
Years ago, I read an article describing the best method to determine if a dollar bill was real or counterfeit. The best way is not to study all types of counterfeit bills. The best way is to study the real thing. Once you know what a real bill looks and feels like you can identify a counterfeit one. The principal is true in discerning the truth of God. Understand that the best counterfeit bills resemble the real ones. The same can be said about what is truth.
If you are to defeat all the falsehoods out there, you must study God’s Word. Get to know God through knowing the Word.
A boy asked his father, “Dad, what is the size of God? How big is He?” The Father looked up and saw a little plane high in the sky, “What is the size of the plane in the sky?” The boy replied, “It is small, I can hardly see it in the sky." The father took his son to the airport and parked by the gate was an Airbus A380. The father asked: “Now, how big is this plane?” The boy looked at the airplane and said, “Wow, Dad, that plane is huge! It is a lot bigger than that plane in the sky, is not it!”
Then the father put his arm around his son and said, “God’s size is like this plane. It is the same one you saw in the sky from a distance, and it looked so small. God’s size depends on how close or how far you are to Him. The closer you are to God, the bigger God looks!”
Jesus is the truth of all truths, and He invites you to know who He is. In knowing Him, you will know truth. Yes, there are lots of things that will tell us this is truth, or that is truth. But if it contradicts the character of God or His Word, it is not worth our time. Remember that the closer we are to God, the bigger He looks. When struggling with doubt, get as close to God as you possibly can; He will show us the way.
Until Next Week When We Meet at the P.E.W
(Pastor’s Encouragement Weekly)
Pastor Joel