Gene Holman
Special to The R-C
In the Old Testament section of the Bible, truth is at the top of essential moral virtues along with goodness, righteousness, and justice. Israel’s greatest prophet Isaiah warned the nation in words found in Isa 59:14-15, “Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.” The pervasiveness of corruption and disdain of truth in Isaiah’s day led to confusion and weakening of the whole nation resulting in its ultimate fall to the Assyrians in 701 B.C.
In the New Testament, a most profound statement of truth was made by the Lord Jesus in John 14:6 where He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
The implication of this statement touches the limits of comprehension. Jesus begins the statement with, “I am the way.” The way here means the path, the road, or means, and the context indicates He is referring to immortality and a future paradise. Notice that He does not say, “I am a truth” but, “I am THE truth.”
This means that He claims to not only be the origin and source of truth but the essence and personification of truth itself.
It is disturbing and distressing that truth in modern times has become of such little significance just as in the days of Isaiah and ancient Israel and there is every reason to expect it will bring the same fearful results. Along with false witnesses and character assassins, the truth is often taken so lightly as to be of no relevance thus perpetuating and ignoring a most diabolical moral evil instead of condemning and censoring it.
This is what the Bible says about the fate of liars in Rev 21:8.
“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.”
Concerning the inherent evil of Satan in John 8:44, Jesus said “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But of truth He said. “Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice (teaching).” John 18:37
Another important statement Jesus made concerns the value of truth is in John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Implications drawn from these words is that falsehood leads to limitations of free and fearless thought and action while truth has the opposite effect.
May the Spirit of truth make us greater lovers and followers of truth for truth is the foundation of restoration and fellowship with God. His truth is marching on and will ultimately prove to be incomparably superior over fabrication and dishonesty.
Pastor Gene Holman of Living Word Fellowship in Gardnerville is a member of Carson Valley Ministers’ Association
