What is truth?

We live in a day when truth is considered relative and subjective, even to the extreme that believing a lie makes it true and not believing a truth makes it a lie. Declaring something to be true sometimes gets people in trouble with their friends, with culture, even with the government or the law.

One dictionary says, “truth about something is all the facts about it, rather than things that are imagined or invented.” Bible dictionaries such as Baker’s offer paragraphs concerning the Bible’s use and definitions of this word. I’m looking this up for two reasons: my devotional reading points out that the New Testament has several books that address the problem of false teaching as opposed to truth revealed by God.

Strong warnings are part of what the NT says. Christ had warned His followers of the rise of false Christs and false prophets.

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 24:24)

The other reason is a story I heard last night. Two young people both from a Christian upbringing heard about a group in another part of the country, went there, became involved but the group turned out to be a cult. Their followers are forbidden to read the Bible and must listen only to their leader. They are also forbidden to see or speak to any of their family members. Their parents are heart-broken and deeply dismayed. How can this happen to their children whom they thought ‘knew better’ than to get involved in false teaching?

According to Scripture, the only thing real about false teaching is that it exists. It was there before Jesus came and multiplied after He ascended to heaven. Paul told the church:

I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20:29–30)

Those who know the Bible realize that we have a spiritual enemy who is called the father of lies. He twists the truth to deceive and destroy. One would think this enemy would be obvious and easy to spot, but not so. Paul warned the church about false teachers and their activities and in that warning, he describes how this enemy disguises himself to dupe unwary people:

And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. (2 Corinthians 11:12–15)

One example of false teaching in the NT is Gnosticism in which teachers claimed to possess a superior philosophical-religious type of knowledge. The Bible, especially John’s epistles, answer that error, mostly by pointing out how faith in Christ changes people, setting them free from sin.

Some might say that Christians also claim to have superior knowledge, etc. but this is not our claim. It is Jesus who said:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

He is the only one who can back up that statement. He lived a sinless, selfless life, healed the sick, controlled the weather, turned water into wine, and loved even sinners to the point of dying for us that our sins might be forgiven and we could receive eternal life. No one else has ever done that and millions of people can testify to the truth/reality of it. I am free and assured of eternity with God because of Jesus and the Holy Spirit that He sent:

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. (John 14:16–17)

Deception denies Jesus and His power. Deception says we can save ourselves or that we don’t need saving because we are good people. Deception sometimes will tell us that we are so damaged that there is no hope for our lives. None of this corresponds to the reality of Jesus who is still in the business of saving sinners. He is the truth — so much needed in this dark and deceitful world.

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Lord God, I’m thankful today that You took me from my self-deception, exposing the lies I believed about You and about myself. You saved me from sin and continue to save me. You also assure me over and over that You are true and You are enough. How I need you! How this world needs You. May the power of truth transform this present darkness.