What is Truth?

"What is truth?" was Pilate's question after Jesus stated that He came to bear witness to the truth.  Likewise, in the movie, The Jesus Revolution, the predominate question of the hippie generation was how to find truth.  It is clear that until we have a foundation of truth about life and its purpose that man is floundering in uncertainty and hopelessness.  

On one hand, God has created an awesome universe and rightfully declares in Romans 1:19-20, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse."  On the other hand, God has created us in the image of God and given us free will to seek and search for truth.  Proverbs 25:2 says it well, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings to search out a matter."

Jesus told us to ask, to seek, and to knock.  He pointed out that when we seek Him with all our heart, He will be found.  Proverbs 2:1-5 describes an attitude of desiring and determined seeking that brings great results, concluding in verses 4-5, "If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."  Jesus asked the man with an infirmity at the pool of Bethesda, "Do you want to be healed?" The point is, how much do we really want to know God better and how desperate are we to go after more truth?

Jesus is the truth, and He has given us the Spirit of truth to reveal truth from His Word.  Jesus promised the Spirit would lead us into all truth.  Rather that live by man's worldly standards and understanding of life, we can know the truth about the purpose of life, about God's will and what really matters, about salvation and all Jesus has done to forgive sin and make us a new creation, and finally, eternal judgment and our glorious forever destiny.  We are the most blessed people on earth who know our God and His truth.  

In the third letter of John, John expressed God's heart when he said he had no greater joy than to hear that his children were walking in truth.  The end of the matter is this: seek truth, know truth, walk in truth. 

Purpose of Education

 "What do you know?" a friend would ask as his greeting instead of  "how are you?"  The truth is most of us "know" a lot of things, facts, ideas, feelings, etc., but it was always tough to give a specific answer.  Maybe a better question is "What do you know that impacts your life?" rather than asking for a volume of unrelated facts that one could share. 

From infancy a child is learning how to live in this world and gaining instruction to shape his life.  In a general sense this is called education.  Education is defined by Noah Webster, "The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners; education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations."  More than a series of subjects, facts and methods, education affects our understanding, the formation of character, and the way we prepare for being useful in life.

Since God created the world and all that is in it, Psalm 19 declares, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork."   The underlying principle is that everything created and rightly understood will show the glory of God.  Facts lead to conclusions which give understanding.  All truth, every aspect of creation, shows the wisdom and eternal power of God (Romans 1:20).   

This truth is further declared in Colossians 1:16-17, "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist." Therefore, it follows that the study of all things would show His ways and His nature.  From God's perspective, Colossians 2:3 reveals "Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  Therefore, the purpose of all wisdom and knowledge is to reveal and come to know Jesus Christ.

Likewise, Jesus explained that the ultimate purpose of life is "that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." (John 17:3)  Everything else that does not lead to a greater knowledge of Him is wasted effort and deception leading to destruction.  

Proverbs 1:7 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."  Likewise, "The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord." according to Psalm 111:10.  Anything that is built upon any other foundation than respect and awe for the wisdom and authority of God will not stand. 

Fallen nature's thoughts and ways are not God's thoughts and ways.  In order to know God we are told "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2)  Jesus promised if we continue in His Word, we would know the truth.  The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth. Therefore, the purpose of education is to have the mind and heart enlightened by truth to know Jesus and to be changed into a "new creature" who walks in His ways.  

What is Truth?

 As Jesus was making His final prayer to the Father in John 17, He prays "Sanctify them by Your truth, Your Word is truth."  To sanctify means to set apart for God.  The truth of God's Word sets us apart, and is the power that sets us free.

  We live in a day where people do not know what is the truth and don't even know whom to believe.  What is the truth about Covid and wearing masks? about election fraud, about abortion, about mariage and divorce, about such sexual standards as homosexuality, transgender changes, sex before marriage, exposure in dress, about drinking and marijuana, etc.  It is interesting that even Pilate asked Jesus, what is truth?  In Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21, the chapters where Jesus talks about the end times, his first warning to the church is "Be not decieved."  And in John 16, Jesus shares His provison and protection for us in sending the Holy Spirit who will lead you into all truth.

 None of us is so holy or descerning that we cannot be deceived. Even Adam and Eve, who walked with God in the garden, were deceived.  Where there is no absolute standard of truth, as in Judges "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes," destruction is sure to follow.  Jesus called Satan a liar and the fatrher of lies. The enemy is identified in Revelation the as one who decieves the whole world (Rev 12:9)  then in 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2 God explains "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, 10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."  Love of the truth must be the dominant foundation of what we believe, so the "signs andf wonders" of the age doesn't lead us astray. 

 The point is unless you are consecrated to God, you aren't able to hear Him,  How many times did Jesus say he who has ears to hear, let him hear.  Hard times and deceiving persuasions are definitely coming, but Jesus said (to Pilate) "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."  So we need to pray that God give us anointing to be totally in, to love Him and His truth, and let the Holy Spirit lead us into truth.  God's Word is truth. Those who know their God will do great exploits, even in coming trials according to Daniel 11:32.  As you recall, Revelation 12:11 lists three things that overcome the enemy and his deception, 1) the blood of the Lamb, 2) the Word of our testimony, and 3) laying down our all, even if it costs us our lives. Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph. 

 Would you join me in praying? Father, today I choose to surrender afresh all that I am, my thoughts and desires to be set apart for you.  Give me a true love for the truth and establish my heart to trust you to keep me and lead me in triumph through the days ahead. Holy Spirit lead me into all truth and help me never be ashamed of the Lord Jesus and His Word.  Thank You for all you have done and all you will do to glorify Your name on the earth and forever.  

Got Truth?

"What do you know for sure?" is a favorite greeting of a friend of mine.  It always causes me to stop and think.  The problem is that so much of what we "know" is from the media, a second-hand report, or someone else's opinion given with authority.  Many of us are just "sheep" following the latest news that someone has tweeted or shared on Facebook.  How much is fact and how much is just subjective perception?
    Every time we hear of a famous celebrity or person with academic credentials pontificating some philosophy, and then later the information fails the test of time or the person's life falls apart at the seams, we realize again how foolish it is to assume popularity means it must be correct.  Things are not always the way they seem.  We certainly want our lives to be built upon a rock of truth rather than the sinking sand of man's opinion.   
   The world is changing so fast, things that were considered immoral are being proclaimed openly as acceptable, standards of life, marriage, sex, drugs, etc. have all undergone huge shifts and transformations.  How far will it go and when will it end?
   However, one truth will never change.  When this life is over and this present age comes to an end, only what can last for eternity will matter.  God will only validate what is really true and right and good.  However, because of what Jesus has done to pay the price for sin, judgment should be a time of great reward as Jesus declares, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of My Father."  Obviously all things will be tested by fire, maybe the fire of God's all-knowing eyes, and regardless of politically correct opinion and society's approval, only truth will stand.  Everything else will burn up.
   Proverbs 23:23 advises man to buy the truth, and not to give it up at any cost.  Surely Solomon understands the value of truth and the attitude of treasuring it above all things.  Jesus said He is the Truth.  He further stated "if you continue in My Word you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:31-32)  Consider the foolproof promise of God: Anyone who seeks truth will find it.  God alone knows whether one is content to follow the "sheep" doing what he pleases and holding on to whatever "truth" is popular; or on the other hand, whether the person is honestly seeking truth and ready to follow it at any cost.      
   The purpose of this article is to invite you to be wise, get truth, and never let go of it.  Truth has eternal fruit and rewards. 

Don't lie; Tell the Whole Truth

What do you do if the physical pain is still there and you have prayed and believed for healing? Can you say, “I am healed by Jesus’ stripes” and not feel like you are lying? Obviously the same dilemma happens when you say “My needs are met according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” and there is not money to pay the bills.
There is an answer. Tell the whole truth. The whole truth includes the fact that there is a spiritual realm that also exists and is greater than the physical realm. Don’t deny the physical pain and pretend like it doesn’t exist, but deny that the physical realm is the only source of truth. My words can be based on whichever realm I hold as greater. So the truth is “I have physical pain, but in the spiritual realm the resurrected Christ dwells in me, and His healing stripes have already healed me. My needs are met because I am in eternal covenant with the infinite, almighty God which easily handles the present physical challenges. I choose faith, choose to believe “It is finished,” and declare with my mouth what I hold as true.
Mark 11:24 confirms this principle. When we believe and declare the spiritual truth over the physical realm, then there will also be a manifestation in the physical realm in due time.

Heart of Christian Education

What is the difference between Christian education and what children receive through the public system? The argument is that both venues may have Christian teachers who love their students and the subjects are pretty much the same, so what is the big deal? Perhaps one of the key points is that Christian education integrates the Bible into our subjects in a way that shows how this subject relates to Scriptural truth. This article considers a more complete picture of the role that revealed Biblical truth provides in genuine Christian education.

Bible integration is a well-meaning term used to show how the Word of God is brought into every discipline. However, on a practical level that term is often a euphemism for a frantic search to find Scriptures that fit into various aspects of our curriculum, similar to the student who has finished a science project but needs to have a Scripture on it to make the presentation complete. The question is, does finding an appropriate Bible verse do anything constructive for developing a Christian worldview?

Developing a Christian worldview requires something so much more pervasive. The solution is not finding the right verses, but rather having a paradigm shift in what is reality. Consider this truth: Jesus reveals Himself as the way, the truth, and the life. He further points out that eternal life is to know Him and the One who sent Him. The goal of our life and teaching likewise must be to know Him. We are not teachers that happen to be Christian, we are Christians, people who know Jesus Christ personally, that have been entrusted the gift of teaching. In other words, we are to teach Jesus, His ways, His life, and His truth in order to let the Holy Spirit reveal the nature of God to each student. We teach Him through our subjects.

Reality is that all subjects are the reflections and handiwork of God and thereby demonstrate various aspects of His character, nature, and life. John Dewey deliberately established religion as separate from other subjects in the Dewey Decimal System. God didn’t. All creation demonstrates God eternal and invisible attributes according to Romans 1. Indeed the whole process of life shows God’s patience in desiring all people to understand their need for and come to know God. Therefore, genuine teaching is about God, who He is, what He is like, and how great is His mercy and goodness. Subjects just happen to be the physical examples and illustrations that allow human nature to grasp some understanding of the infinite, all wise, almighty, personal God.

For example, mathematics helps us perceive the three in one, the strength of unity, the ability to calculate and multiply, and a system that can evaluate the incredible order and vastness of all creation. Math further provides a method for man to marvel and to understand the greatness of the indescribable God who designed such an awesome precise universe in which each part has its exact place and value. Not one hair on our head is unaccounted for nor is one jot of the law left unfulfilled. Mathematics falls short in its ability to approximate or even define infinity but God rests eternally knowing the number of the stars and the thoughts and intents of the heart. The “teaching the greatness of God” point of view is infinitely greater than just finding a Scripture where David numbers his army to identify Biblical integration in math.

Unless we as Christian educators understand this perspective we will always be falling short trying to discover a verse or principle that might apply to what we want to teach. However, if we marvel at who He is and what He has done and how incredible His creation reflects His glory, then our history, literature, science, and even music or art lessons will naturally point to the greatness of the One who authored it all. Learning will be an opportunity for Holy Spirit revelation and the process will be life-giving in its perspective. Jesus will be the all in all.