“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32 ESV
Without setting aside one’s pre-dispositions and feelings, people will forever live in a diluted mindset that thinks “there is no such thing as truth” as truth itself.
People are so willing to accept truth, until it comes to religion and morality. Multitudes would rather live in deception than to come to know the truth in full. It is disheartening to watch as many dismiss the Ultimate Truth simply because they don’t like being confronted and lack any desire to change. It is in the irony of all those who are truly born again, that they too had to strip themselves of their pride as they were convicted that they have been wrong. As born again believers, we all had to humble ourselves before entering into Truth Himself. No one likes to hear that they are a sinner, but it is the first step if one is to be free from the bondage of sin, covered by the Blood of Christ, and given the Holy Spirit. Without setting aside one’s pre-dispositions and feelings, people will forever live in a diluted mindset that thinks “there is no such thing as truth” as truth itself.
The amount of times people follow their heart rather than their mind is frightening. No one is willing to do their own research. No one is willing to go to the original source. No one is willing to fact check what is continual said and shared through media outlets.
It is unfortunate that we live in a time where the media is constantly in our face. We can barely go a day without listening to some form of news. Ephesians 2:2 (ESV) says that Satan is “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience”. It is astounding and bewildering how the media does not speak for the masses, yet, controls the narrative. They desire to pollute and deceive us at the expense of division and fulfilling a demonic agenda. The amount of times people follow their heart rather than their mind is frightening. No one is willing to do their own research. No one is willing to go to the original source. No one is willing to fact check what is continual said and shared through media outlets.
We have people that simply believe what they want to believe. They are un-discerned and willing to look for anything that backs up their view, even if it is contrary to truth.
We have people that simply believe what they want to believe. They are un-discerned and willing to look for anything that backs up their view, even if it is contrary to truth. They are people who have become too prideful to acknowledge when they are wrong. Instead, they will die for their view over truth, because they cannot handle the thought of being wrong. It is due to this saddened state that we are where we are and see the squabbles, fights, and conflicts we have today. Rather than civil discussions, we are led by feeling and emotions.
“Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.” Blaise Pascal
Since Satan is the prince of the power of the air, he is able to hinder all sound reasoning and perception. He is able to divert people from the truth and lie to them. Without Holy Ghost discernment, it is no wonder why people are so misled and misguided. Blaise Pascal said some centuries ago that “Truth is so obscure in these times, and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.” One can only imagine what he would think now living in the 21st century.
We live in an age of three falsities that deceive the majority. They are views that seem so friendly and enticing, but no one stops to think, “Could this in fact be true?” Let us list the three issues of our day:
Relativism: which says there is no absolute truth. This is self-defeating if one takes five seconds to reflect. Those who are relativists say there are no truths with believing that their statement is absolutely true. Debunked.
Pluralism: which says all views can be true. This too is easily refuted. All views of course cannot be true because the opposite of that view can’t be true.
Naturalism: says no supernatural events occur. It is the view that denies the existence of God. In order to be a Naturalist, however, you have to try to disprove God; which few have ever tried. Many Atheists do the questioning and demand the evidence, but few are able to accurately back up their belief that “God does not exist" when they are asked.
There is only one truth, and that is truth itself. There is only one place where truth comes from, and that is Truth Himself.
There is only one truth, and that is truth itself. There is only one place where truth comes from, and that is Truth Himself. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6 ESV). How do we know that He is the Truth? How can one be so sure? There are many proofs, but let us briefly list several:
The Gospel account of Jesus’ life (the four books in the New Testament that consist of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) have more than ten times the amount of historical manuscripts than any other ancient document on earth. More than the Torah. More than the Koran. More than the life of Caesar!
The entirety of the Scriptures has one main story that remains consistent over the nearly 2,000 years (depending upon your source) it took to write the entire Bible. Real people. Real locations. Real events.
There is much historical credibility that Jesus in fact was Who He said He was (He said “before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58), which is in reference to God visiting Moses at the burning bush in Exodus 3). Some brief supports of evidence that are counted as historically true on the life of Jesus by the majority of New Testament scholars (both secular and non-secular) include:
Jesus of Nazareth was given a proper burial following His crucifixion by Joseph of Arimathea.
Jesus’ tomb was discovered empty by a group of His female followers on the Sunday morning after His crucifixion.
Various individuals and groups of people under a variety of circumstances and locations, experienced appearances of Jesus alive after His death.
The original disciples suddenly and sincerely came to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, despite them having every disposition to the contrary.
Lastly, as Ravi Zacharias said, “Christianity is the only religion that deals with origin, meaning, morality, and destiny.” The Scriptures are able to answer all of these in depth questions that each of us have and desire to have an answer.
That is why we must request of God the words Jesus used in John 17:17 (ESV): “Sanctify them in the Truth; Your Word is Truth.” How might we receive Truth Himself within us? How might we be given the Light that the world did not perceive and hates? We must believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and repent of our sins. This is the only way to be saved from sin, ourselves, the enemy, the world, damnation, and Hell. God desires that all would come to know Truth, but He knows that in designing a world of freewill creatures, some would naturally reject Truth.
“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” Soren Kierkegaard
As Soren Kierkegaard once said: “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” We have the choice of choosing whether we believe Truth or dismiss it. Many times, we are so willing to accept truth, until it confronts us of our sinful state. We are so willing to follow mathematical equations, laws of nature, and the revealed truths of science, but we have such trouble acknowledging we are sinners and taking the time to see if we are in fact not good people. One alone could know that they are unclean and guilty before a Holy God merely by looking at their thoughts over the last year. Yet, many do not do so because they are engulfed with noise. They cannot bear the thought of being alone to reflect on who they truly are within.
We must hope that all would come to receive the Holy Spirit through belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and repentance of sins. For “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come” (John 16:13 ESV). The Holy Spirit will be our Guide and our Compass throughout this life, though, at times we will fall. For the Lord does not demand perfection from us. He knows at times we will go off course from the Holy Spirit’s direction. For we all are still in our earthly bodies. We all war against the flesh and the Spirit when becoming born again. It is the truth in knowing that God simply desires a heart that seeks after Him that keeps us moving forward. Those who do so will understand and receive the Grace and Mercy that He is so willing to give. We must simply humble ourselves before His Mighty Throne.
Souls depend upon the pursuit of Truth. If we fail the call and allow our emotions, feelings, and carnal motives and desires to take precedent, we will fail not only God, but ourselves.
“Lead me in Your Truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long” (Psalm 25:5 ESV). God will reveal Truth, if we so desire it. The question is, are we willing? Martin Luther King, Jr. was right when he said, “I still believe that standing up for the truth of God is the greatest thing in the world. This is the end (purpose) of life. The end of life is not to be happy. The end of life is not to achieve pleasure and avoid pain. The end of life is to do the will of God, come what may.” May we desire to seek, strive, live, defend, and die for Truth. Souls depend upon the pursuit of Truth. If we fail the call and allow our emotions, feelings, and carnal motives and desires to take precedent, we will fail not only God, but ourselves.
May we walk into newness of life with the eyes of the soul fixated on Truth through the lenses of the Holy Spirit.
Even when it is convicting and temporarily unpleasant, may we desire Truth. May we listen to Truth. May we act on Truth. For if there were no truth, why believe anything at all? Christ alone is the way. The Scriptures alone reveal the truth of life. Call on Him today and be cleansed from sin and deception. Walk into newness of life with the eyes of the soul fixated on Truth through the lenses of the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Truth and for Your Word. We thank You that we are able to know You through Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Lord, help us to be defenders of Truth. Whatever may come, may we not bow or bend to the deception and evil that is taking place in the world. May we not be deceived into giving into our emotions and feelings. Give us a steady mind and a discerning heart. May we walk in the Light and not in darkness. Though the world is to decay and become darker still, we make this oath to stand on Your Word. We will not compromise, for You alone are Truth Himself. O Lord, give us strength and courage for the journey. Draw us into Your presence. Show us the deeper truths of life as we press into knowing You more each day. We give our lives to You in full. Do what is according to Your will, for Your will is Good. May Your Truth set us free from sin. May it convict us when we are in the wrong. May it give us the wisdom needed in the days ahead to stand against an evil and perverse generation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Lance VanTine