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God’s Truth often offends people. The gospel’s message is one that asks people to change, and that can be hard to do. Others might take offense at their need for a “Savior,” someone to be subservient to bow to. In fact, Jesus pretty much promises that people will be angry at His message:
 
(Luke 21:12-19)1NIV New International Version Translations – “But before all this, they will seize you and persecute you. They will hand you over to synagogues and put you in prison, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. Everyone will hate you because of me. But not a hair of your head will perish. Stand firm, and you will win life.”
In all four gospels, Jesus commands His disciples to deny their old lives of sinful selves and sinful human thinking. We are called to give our past life to the cross. The hardest part comes next: to then take up our own cross. This means no more self-pity over denying ourselves things we want. No more making up rules for the life we want. If the desire, the goal, is to spend eternity in Heaven, life cannot be to make everyone happy with us. A new life means a life of obedience based on God’s Truth. If knowing God’s Truth is critical to finding eternal life, then what is God’s Truth?
 
(John 18:37-38) – “’Then You are a king!’ Pilate said. ‘You say that I am a king,’ Jesus answered. ‘For this reason I was born and have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to My voice.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked. And having said this, he went out again to the Jews and told them, ‘I find no basis for a charge against Him.’”
 
What is truth? asks Pilate when Jesus Christ stands at His trial before him. A good question even today since we live in a world in which absolute truth does not exist. Pilate was dismissive, angry that Christ dared to speak with Truth. Yet, there was Pilate looking into the face of the Incarnate Truth but could not discern it. Truth is reality. It is how things are. Truth is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. Truth is the self-disclosure of God Himself. All Truth is defined by God, whose very nature is Truth. Truth is divine, from above, not of this world. Truth is not determined by opinion polls or public surveys. It does not come from human knowledge. Truth is found only by divine revelation.
 
God’s Truth is absolute because God is absolute. Human truth is subjective, relative, and pragmatic. It gives way to personal or cultural preferences. The issue today is whether there is absolute truth that is true for everyone. This would be the truth, no matter who they are, where they live, or what they do. Society defines truth as whatever it wants it to be. Something cannot be both true and not true. In such a worldview of self-deception, truth is no longer objective. All truth must be true! The Truth we seek must be absolute because it comes from the one and only God.
 
Since God does not change, neither does His Truth. What is true today for God is true tomorrow. Truth is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Right is always right, and wrong is wrong. Wrong is forever wrong! Society may try to redefine morality. But Jesus called Himself the Truth, not the custom of the day. The world changes, but God’s Truth remains unchanging.
 
(Psalm 119:89) – “Your word, LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.”
 
God’s truth is not subjective. It is not discovered through personal feelings. It is not determined by private groups or secret fact-checkers. Truth is black and white! God’s Truth is not abstract, vague, or nebulous. Truth is found within our Scriptures. God’s Truth can be observed in action, discussed, studied, analyzed, believed, proclaimed, and defended in our world. Because God is objective, His Truth is impartial, unbiased, unprejudiced, and non-partisan. God’s Truth speaks to all people in all places the same way.
 
(John 8:32) – “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
 
Jesus is the incarnation of God’s Truth. Jesus came to save mankind and to make us right with God. Now we can cast the guilt of sin aside and live in God’s Truth. The Truth that Jesus brought possesses power. The test for His Truth is whether it converts, sanctifies, and strengthens us. God’s Truth renews minds, revives hearts, and redirects lives. God’s Truth saves!
 
(1 Corinthians 1:23) – “but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,”
 
The Apostle Paul describes why the gospel message he preached seems so foolish to so many people. He uses “foolishness” to describe how people respond. The word comes from the same Greek word used to form terms such as moron (mōrian). It shows us that the world does not only see the gospel as odd, or unusual, they see it as stupid or idiotic. God’s Truth is not intended to please the world; it is intended to save it. God’s Truth is the “Final Word” on all that matters. It will not be the Internet, social media, artificial intelligence, or the News Media that bring salvation to a single soul. God is the one Source and sole Author of Truth. Sin is whatever God says it is. Judgment is whatever God says it is. Salvation is what God says it is. Heaven and hell are what God says they are. It matters not what humanity says but only what God says. Everyone’s destiny is contingent upon one truth, God’s Truth!
 
(Psalm 145:18) – “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
 
We find God’s Truth only when we seek it. God’s Truth is worth seeking. Therefore, those who seek God and are willing to give all for God’s Truth will be rewarded. By the way, God’s Truth comes conveniently packaged in a book called the “Bible.” Get yours today!
 

Contemplations

  • Where do you see the world redefining God’s Truth?
    • Ideas to Explore: Schools and education; Government, laws within our lands; churches? How do these and other groups attempt to decide what is right and wrong, ignoring God’s Truth?
  • What has society told you to believe that you know is the opposite of what God tells you to believe?
    • Ideas to Explore: You should have no trouble making a big list here. Why is this destructive to our society?
  • With so many sources all claiming to have the “truth,” how do you discern right from wrong?
    • Ideas to Explore: Think of multiple sources for God’s Truth. Which are reliable, and how do you validate them against the ultimate source, the Bible?
  • How do you think the pastors of our world should handle offending people? 
    • Ideas to Explore: Can a church remain Godly and never offend anyone? How should conflicting views be handled?
  • Who do you think is responsible for knowing right from wrong?
    • Ideas to Explore: Everyone claims some expertise in interpreting God. How should the truth about Truth be settled? 
  • What do you think the conflicts associated with redefining truth are doing to youth?
    • Ideas to Explore: Think through the impacts of divorce, drugs, a biased educational system, social media, and biased news. What is this doing to our young people? What is the correct response from families and the church to these concerns? How do we save the young people?
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    NIV New International Version Translations