The IMPORTANCE OF TRUTH

Mike Johnson

What is truth?  This is a very good question.  Pilate asked it in John 18:38.  He may, however, have asked the question with scorn rather than with a thirst for knowledge.  Nevertheless, it is still a significant question.

Jesus said in John 17:17 in his prayer to God, “ . . . thy word is truth.”  Certain inspired individuals wrote down God’s Word for us, and we have it today in the form of the Bible.  God’s Word is certainly true, and the Bible reveals that truth from God.

Truth is very important with respect to morals.  A popular philosophy of today is that nothing is really right or wrong.  Many today say, “a thing is only right or wrong in the way that it pertains to a particular circumstance.”  One movie star, when asked what the one thing was that he wanted to teach his son, replied, “to do whatever made him happy, so long as it does not hurt someone else.”  This might sound like a good  philosophy;  however,  some  things   may  please us, hurt no one else, and yet be contrary to God’s teachings.  Many are caught up with the moral philosophy of our times instead of truth from God’s Word.

Concerning doctrinal matters, those who will stand up and say that a doctrine is right or wrong are not usually very popular.  The current philosophy, so often found in religion, is that it does not matter who is right as long as he is sincere.  A spirit of fickleness and compromise prevails.  The Bible, however, teaches that we are to contend earnestly for the faith (Jude 3); the path of salvation is narrow (Mt. 7:13-14); salvation is promised only to those who obey God (Heb. 5:8-9); only truth can make us free (John 8:32).

The Bible completely furnishes us with the truth from God (II Tim. 3:16-17).  We must value and emphasize this truth and apply it to every aspect of our life.