The Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth

What is truth? 

Such a simple question but one with an answer that seems hard and confusing to understand sometimes.

As a believer, truth to me is God loving the world so much He sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins so we could live in heaven with Him forever. (John 3:16)

Our world, though, sees truth in a different light. According to the world, truth is whatever you want it to be. Whatever feels good or right to you or makes sense for you. There is no black or white. Only shades of gray.

Over 2000 years ago a man named Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38)

Before Jesus could respond, Pilate left because he could find no fault in Him.

If he had only stayed around and let Jesus respond, he could have known the truth.

Not too many hours before this encounter, Jesus had been praying to God for the believers that were alive at that time as well as those who would believe in the future. (John 17) In verse 17 Jesus says, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

The answer to Pilate’s question “What is truth?” is God’s Word is truth. And for us, God’s Word is the Bible.

So what does that mean for us today in a world full of changing truth?

Here are three things I think believers can do knowing that God’s Word is true:

1. Turn to the Bible as our source of truth.

We can read magazines and books, listen to talking heads on news shows, or follow celebrities and think they all hold the key to the truth. However, when we are trying to discern God’s will in situations in our lives, we need to turn to the Bible first.

Are we going to find every answer there specifically? No, but if we are faithful to study God’s Word and use it as our compass for our lives, God will reveal the answers we need.

2. Filter everything we hear through God’s Word.

There are so many situations arising where the world will tell us we are being hateful if we don’t tolerate what they are doing. God’s Word is the ultimate authority on how we should conduct our lives.

Yes, we are to be loving, kind, and merciful to all. However, that does not mean we have to condone sinful and destructive behavior of others. If we believe the Bible is true, then we can’t act in any other way.

3. Live our lives in such a way that the world knows we believe the Bible is true.

Many non-believers are turned off by Christianity because they see so many who profess to believe speaking out more on what they are against than what they are for.

I think if we would live as humbled people who have been saved by God, we would be better witnesses. When we share more about what we are for than what we are against, we can convey the gift of eternal life that everyone can have. We can show hope to a lost and dying world.

If we spend all our time condemning the world and not loving the world as the Bible instructs us to, we are living as if we don’t believe the Bible is true.

The truth is not always an easy subject to talk about. Nor is it easy to follow the truth all the time.

I encourage you to stay in God’s Word and get connected with Him so you can recognize the truth when you see it.