What Is Truth?

Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. (John 17:16–17, NIV 1984).

My Musings – It seems to me, that there was a time when it was generally accepted that there could only be one truth. That truth, at least in the western world, was God’s Word.

In the late nineteenth and twentieth century came a paradigm shift that each person has the ability to create his or her own sense of truth (existentialism). That is to say, “that may be your truth, but it is not my truth.” This included a growing acceptance that what might be true in one situation may not be true in a different situation (relativism).

Lately, we’re seeing another paradigm shift. If it is not my truth it is not truth at all. Which is to say “I am right and anyone who disagrees with me is wrong.” The problem being everyone who disagrees is claiming they are right.

Truth is that which corresponds to reality. Reality has only one standard, regardless of the situation or the person. It has only one standard-bearer, and that is God.

My Advice – We live in an age of confusion. So many do not know what to believe, because there are so many different truth claims competing for our acceptance. When we know in our heart that there can only be one truth and we want to be free of all the lies. But “what is truth?” (John 18:38, NIV 1984).

“Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'” (John 8:31–32, NIV 1984). Check out His teaching. “If the Son [Jesus] sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36, NIV 1984). “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 1984).