Truth

“Truth” is a popular word. Politicians, philosophers, scien­tists and theologians talk about them. When the Lord was tried before Pilate, He said, “My kingship is not from this world ... You said that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice” (Jn 18:37,38). Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” Indeed, what is truth? Before the Lord Jesus was crucified He prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them in the truth; thy word is truth” (Jn 17:17). One who is not sanctified by truth cannot go the Father. This truth is the “truth” which the Lord referred to when the disciples were troubled in their hearts on hearing that their master would depart from them for a while. Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth …” (Jn 14:16,17). The promise of the Lord to His disciple was to sanctify them with the Spirit of truth. Before I Us departure the Lord prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them in the truth” This fulfilled the promise of the Lord. The Holy Spirit is the truth. In John 17:17 it is written: “Thy word is truth”. The “word” refers to the word of God as well as to God Himself (Jn 1:1). Thus, God is truth. The Lord Jesus who was “Word became flesh” came to the world and said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6). Jesus is the truth. But the Lord has already been taken up to heaven. Where then can we find the truth?

1.      The place where the name of God is upheld.

In Exodus 20:24, it is written: “An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen; in every place where 1 cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.” Do the churches today magnify the name of the Lord? Most of them bear the name of a person or a place. They have replaced the name of God with that of man or place.

2.      The place where there is the presence of the Holy Spirit.

If the Holy Spirit is truth, the church must have the presence of the Holy Spirit.

3.      The place which has the word of truth.

The teachings of the Church are based on the teachings of Christ. The Church must not compromise the truth. It must always follow the Bible.

4.      The place where there are signs and miracles.

Before the Lord ascended to heaven, He promised the disciples that signs and wonders would follow them evidencing that the word they preached was true (Mk 16:17,20). In the ministry of the apostles, signs and miracles were accompanying them confirming the word they preached.

Truth exists for ever. The Scriptures say, “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is firmly fixed in the heavens” (Ps 119:89). Peter in his epistle also says, “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord abides for ever” (1 Pet 1:24). Similarly, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever (Heb 13:8).

What are the consequences of trying to change the truth? Paul in his epistle to the churches in Galatia says, “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel - not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if any one is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed” (Gal 1:6-9).

John warned, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if any one takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book” (Rev 22:18-19). What then should we do?

Thirst for the truth.

Prophet Isaiah says, “It shall come to pass in latter days that the mountains of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountains of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isa 2:2, 3). In this passage, the “mountains”, “house”, “Zion” and “Jerusalem” refer to the Church of God in the last days. Let us all go up to this mountain, enter this temple of the Lord and He will surely teach us the truth.

Hold fast to the truth.

If some one has found a treasure he will surely take good care of it (Prov 7:3). It is hoped that those who have received the truth will hold fast to it.

Uphold the truth.

To uphold the truth is to protect it. We are to contend for it (Jude 3). We should never compromise.

Practice the truth.

A true believer not only listens to the Word of God, he also practices it. David wrote in his psalms: “Teach me thy way, O Lord, that I may walk in thy truth; unite my heart to fear thy name” (Ps 86:11).