In a world where “my truth” has become a common catch phrase to justify believing whatever you want to believe as the truth. If you ask the world to define truth, you would probably hear about perspective or sincerity. However, everyone knows that just because you believe the sky is green does not make it green. You can be sincere and be sincerely wrong. Truth always has parameters and always has a base. Truths are built on something that can give validity to the belief.
For a Christian, truth is not just a set of facts or a list of rules; Truth is a person. In John 18:38, Jesus was standing before Pilate, and Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” It was a cynical question, but something about Jesus was changing Pilate’s mind. He goes to the crowd and tells them he finds no fault in this man. Pilate was a coward. He had truth standing before him, but he allowed the crowd to define truth according to their desires.
John 18:38 “Pilate saith unto him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”
The Bible provides a basis and parameters for truth. First, truth is divine. The author is God. In Titus 1:2, Paul teaches us that God cannot lie. Paul is teaching them that truth is God, and He is the one we measure everything else by.
In John 8:32, Jesus tells us that the truth is liberating. When we lie or believe lies, the lies keep us trapped in cycles of fear and confusion. But Jesus says, “ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Freedom is something we all desire in all areas of our lives, but true freedom is knowing the truth and living by it.
We must understand that truth is unchanging. Our problem is that our lives are so tainted by sin that we often see things the way the world sees them. But how we see them does not define them. We must cherish truth so much that our doubts and fears turn to excitement as we face the future knowing that God is always good. Human opinions are always changing like shifting sand, but when God is our rock, we can count on them as if they have already happened. He is the source of reality. When we line up with the Truth, Jesus, we are not adopting a new philosophy as the world sees things; we are connecting ourselves to the only thing that is solid.
So, how do we apply this knowledge? First, we cannot allow our feelings to dictate what truth is. We must get into the Word and compare our feelings to what God says. Philippians 4:8 is a good verse to use in this situation. To think about what is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. In my mind, all of these describe our God. We need to gather all our thoughts and zoom out to focus on the real Truth. I Peter tells us to “gird up the loins of your minds.” In other words, pull it all together and filter it through the word. Knowing the word will allow us to recognize a counterfeit. Don’t be deceived, know God, know who He is, and how He operates. This is the definition of Truth!
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
I Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
