Friday, October 23

The Way of Truth

Yet you are near, Lord, and all your commands are true.

—Psalm 119:151

In this world we live in, truth can be a difficult commodity to come by. Politicians tend to be full of spin. Authors write memoirs that are largely fiction. Court cases may be more about polish and panache than about facts. Athletes who set records are later shown to have used performance-enhancing substances. And in this postmodern era, “truth” is largely something people create for themselves based on what “works” for them.

Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician and philosopher, lamented the scarcity of truth in his own culture several centuries ago, in the 1600s. “Truth is so obscure in these times,” he said, “and falsehood so established, that, unless we love the truth, we cannot know it.”

In a world where truth can seem as transient as a pathway made of quicksand, Psalm 119 comes like the firm footing we’ve been desperately grappling to find. It’s grounding to discover in the words of this psalm sturdy footholds of truth—the kind we can pave the roads of our lives with.

Throughout the Bible, God reveals himself as a God of truth. It’s one of the fundamental aspects of his character. Here are just a few examples:

In the book of Isaiah, the Lord referred to himself as “the one true God” (Isaiah 65:16), and the prophet Jeremiah said, “The Lord is the true God; he is the living God” (Jeremiah 10:10).

In Jesus’ prayer for his disciples shortly before he was crucified, he affirmed truth as a core part of the character of God: “This is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

And perhaps most amazing of all, the Bible says that we can know this one true God: “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who istrue. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (1 John 5:20).

As people made to reflect God’s image, we are called to reflect his character, including his passion for truth. American theologian R. C. Sproul said, “If you are of the truth, if you have learned the truth, if you see the sanctity of the truth, then speak truth. We are not called to be deceivers or liars. God is a God of truth, and His people are called to have an enormously high standard of truth.”

Embracing truth isn’t just something we do because God says so. There is also an inherent blessing that comes with living a life of truth. Not only is it an act of obedience to God and a reflection of his character, but it is also the way to freedom: “You will know the truth,” Jesus said, “and the truth will set you free” -John 8:32.

The world tells us that truth confines us, boxes us in, cramps our freedom. But when Jesus came—as Truth in human form (John 14:6)—he assured us that just the opposite is the case. The truth is the very key to unlocking the handcuffs that bind us. It’s what grabs us out of whatever slippery substance we find ourselves sinking in—whether it’s the quicksand of the culture we live in, our circumstances, or own sin—and puts our feet on solid ground.

Evaluate the key areas of your day. Are there any habits of speech, action, or thought you need to change to become a person of greater truth?

—Stephanie Rische