What is Truth
Many have asked this question and when they received the answer they did not like it and therefore rejected it.
The truth is the most controversial subject that we can study. Many different explanations have been given to it, but still it remains a mystery to most of the people. The truth is the most loved by some. They have sacrificed all for it, even their lives. The truth is also most hated by others. Great persecutions have been raised against the ones who loved the truth.
Most of the religious people love lies. Therefore the ministers, pastors and priests tell lies to their congregations who then eagerly believe them.
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Tim. 4:3-4.
This kind of condition existed already in the Old Testament time. “Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel”: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.” Hosea 4:1.
They did continue their religious ceremonies; they kept the Sabbath and paid tithes, but without the truth they were meaningless exercises and did not bring peace to their souls neither the promised future life.
Paul is speaking about the religious teachers in his days. “If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmising, perverse disputings of the men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” 1 Tim. 6:3-5.
The Truth
There is nothing so beautiful as the truth in Jesus. There is a beauty that attracted Paul to leave behind all his earlier life and gain. Christ’s righteousness is the goodly pearl for which man sold all that he had in order to purchase it, and also the hidden treasure.
Men and women have been hungering and thirsting for this righteousness and as a result they have been filled with it.
While beholding the beauty of the truth they started to hate selfishness as something ugly, evil and despisable.
When the words of the truth as sweetest music fall to the ears of a sinner, they bring him hope that the image of Satan can be erased and the perfect image of Jesus can be restored in him.
The Truth Shall Make Us Free
This was the promise of Jesus. The truth will make us free from sin, from selfishness, pride, hatred, envy, covetousness, and every other wrong characteristic.
And then the freedom from sin brings us peace, joy and happiness. Our joy comes from the truth and not from riches, honour, health, and positions. They are not necessary for our happiness. Not even husband or wife is necessary for an enjoyable life. The truth in Jesus supplies all our needs and the longings of our soul.
People who have fallen in love with the truth have died to this world. Everything here seems to them empty, and vanity; therefore they are willing to sacrifice all for the truth.
Martin Luther wrote in his gospel hymn, “A Mighty Fortress”, “Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also. They body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.”
The Truth Hurts
Nothing is so painful to us as the truth.
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart..” Heb. 4:12.
The truth will cut into the innermost soul. It made Peter to weep bitterly. It made the rich young man sorrowful. By speaking the truth, Jesus lost most of His disciples.
“These things said He in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of His disciples, when they heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?… From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with him.” John 6:59-60,66.
Jesus was hated for the truth He spoke. The prophets were killed for the truth they spoke. John the Baptist lost his life for speaking the truth When you go to the doctor he will touch your sore spot, the healthy part he does not touch nor operate on.
Jesus touched the sore spot of the rich young man. We also may have different sore spots and it does hurt when someone touches them.
A member who is not faithful in tithes does not enjoy listening to a sermon of tithe paying. A member who is not faithful in health reform does not enjoy listening to a lecture about a proper diet. These are sore spots or weaknesses and it is the truth to us when these are pointed out.
Love of the Truth
Very few people really love the truth. Paul writes, “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish: because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Tim. 2:10-12.
It is not enough for our salvation to know the truth, we must love the truth. It is not enough to keep the Sabbath; we must love the Sabbath day. It is not enough to follow health reform, we must love the health reform we have. It is not enough to pay tithes, we must love the tithe paying. The same goes to all our church teachings and practices.
Speak the Truth
It is important that the truth is spoken in our pulpits. God holds us responsible for the truth that the people need to hear.
“Today there is need of the voice of stern rebuke: for grievous sins have separated the people from God. The smooth sermons so often preached make no lasting impression; the trumpet does not give a certain sound. Men are not cut to the heart by the plain, sharp truths of God’s word… ‘Thou art the man.’ 2 Sam. 12:7. Words as unmistakably plain as those spoken by Nathan to David are seldom heard in the pulpits of today… These ministers who are men pleasers, who cry, Peace, Peace, when God has not spoken peace, might well humble their hearts before God, asking pardon for their insincerity and their lack of moral courage.” PK 140, 141.
Truth Changes Us
Anyone who comes face to face with the truth will be affected. The truth will change people to the perfect image of Christ or to the perfect image of Satan.
Abel was changed by the truth to the image of God. By the same truth, Cain was changed into the image of Satan. Esau and Jacob learned the same truth but were changed to different images. Jesus called the Pharisees children of the devil. In the middle ages, millions were killed by the religious leaders.
The way of the truth is narrow. Sinners find it inconvenient. It leads us to Calvary.
“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” Rom. 6:6.
“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Tim. 3:12.
We have a beautiful gospel song in our hymnal about the truth. “Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide, in the strife of truth and falsehood for the good or evil side… Then to side with truth is noble, when we share her wretched crust. Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong.”
The pioneers of the Reform Movement sacrificed their lives for the truth they loved. We are the guardians of the truth today and it changes us for the better or for the worse. The promise to us is that the Holy Spirit will lead us into all the truth. And if we love this truth it will make us perfect, ready for Heaven. But let us each one study the present truth that points us our weaknesses and sins and be thankful for the knowledge.
AMEN
Timo Martin, Canada