First, let's deal
with the word “truth.” Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?”
(Jn. 18:38). I don't think Pilate was trying to be philosophical – sarcastic,
maybe, but not philosophical. It seems to me that he didn't know
what truth was, or didn't believe
such a thing was attainable,
so he asked.
Pilate is
similar to many people today. They have been taught to believe that there is no
such thing as absolute
truth. They have been taught that truth, whatever it might be, is for each
person to define. When this happens, you end up with a situation similar to Judges
21:25: “
. . . every
man did what was right in
his own
eyes.” Why had truth become so relative, so individualized, so neutered? “In
those days there was no
king
. . .”
You can say you live in a Christian nation all you want. That isn't the issue. The issue is whether you will submit
to the King. His name is Jesus. It appears we don't have a
King (capital 'K' - Jesus) in the United States. We have 380
million
of them!
Truth is your final
authority
to which you appeal
when making decisions or declaring statements. It is a system
of belief
that invades, infects and directs your thoughts, intentions,
desires, behaviors, pursuits, actions, conclusions and speech. It is a filter
that determines what you will and won't consider, allow or
investigate.
When someone says, “There is no such thing as truth,” he or she
is not
speaking truthfully. Certainly, he or she has some
rationale for choosing to live the way he or she does,
even if that rationale is selfishness or rebellion. That rationale usually begins with the word “I.”
•
I feel that . . .
•
I think that . . .
•
I believe that . . .
The problem is that the King
has written His own
truth and He expects
all
people to follow it. Once His truth is altered, minimized, trivialized or marginalized,
it displeases Him, and the failure to adhere to His standard
won't produce His desired results for individuals, families,
businesses or nations. Once His truth is customized, editorialized or criticized, the King
takes notice. The King of the Universe takes
offence
at the profaning
of His high standard!
Jesus said, “I
am
the way, and
the
truth,
and the life . . .”
(Jn. 14:6). Notice the three-letter word “the.” It doesn't say “a.” That's the indefinite modifier. No, it says “the.” That's the definite modifier. The definite modifier is absolute and exclusive. When Jesus said, “I
am
. . . the
truth . . . “,
He said that there could be no
other
source. That doesn't mean people listen to Him. That doesn't mean people agree with Him.
When it comes down to it, you
must decide
who is right: Jesus or you? Jesus or man? Jesus or
society? Jesus or the philosophers? Jesus or
postmodernism? If you believe a source other than Jesus is right, then you
are calling Jesus a liar.
I'd be careful,
if I were you!
