Tuesday, August 9, 2022

God and Truth (John 14:1-14)

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

When Jesus stood to be tried before Pontius Pilate, Pilate asked Him if He was king of the Jews. Jesus responded by saying, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me” (John 18:37 NIV). Pilate then asked, “What is truth?”

Pilate’s inquiry resonates throughout today’s world. Truth has become a nebulous term, with many facets that change color from culture to culture, from individual to individual. Today’s “truth” embraces contradiction, it stumbles in the streets as the reign of moral and ethical relativism holds our society captive. Right and wrong no longer carry any significant meaning. Absolute truth has been abandoned along with the belief in God.

Considering this crisis of truth, we must take seriously Christ’s statement to Pilate that He testifies to the truth. Elsewhere in Scripture, Christ claims that He is truth (John 14:6). God is not simply a being who tells the truth, He is the very essence of truth; He is the foundation and fountain of all truth. Ultimate truth, ultimate reality resides in the very being of God. Christ, therefore, is the embodiment of truth. In a world filled with lies and deception, people ache to know the truth about themselves, about the world in which they live, about their relationships, and about God. The only guide through this morass of confusion and deception is the Word of God. God has spoken and revealed the truth through His Word. Jesus Himself testified to this truth. The Scriptures tell us the truth about our fall, our total depravity, our need for salvation, and Christ as our only Redeemer.

Because God is truth and He has revealed truth in His Word, we can trust Him implicitly. Our security and happiness is grounded in God’s truthfulness. We don’t have to worry about Him lying to us, failing us, or leading us astray. We can trust in His Word, we can remain secure in Christ. When we become confused by the world’s deceptions, we know that we can always go to the Word of God for refreshment and direction. We know that we can always trust God because He is true to His word and His promises.

Read Proverbs 12:19 and 12:22. Look up other passages that speak about truthfulness (use the For further study verses to help). Why is truth important? What does God expect from His people regarding truth? If you have a problem with lying or deception think about how you can gain victory over this sin.