Where did truth go?

“Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter” ISAIAH 59:14

Not too far back in national history, truth and integrity were the critical ingredients in creating respectable and honorable citizens. In those days truth was a very familiar and common term in language. Today it is hardly mentioned. Instead, It has been substituted with personal opinion and prejudices. Truth requires evidence which is often non-existent in most debates and conversations.  This common practice has resulted in the highly undesirable  results  of increasing suspicion toward  everything including Government, media, and the next-door neighbor. Even more frightening is that righteousness, liberty, and justice for all, cannot exist where  truth is nonexistent.

In the Bible, truth and integrity of character are foundational requisites necessary for the kind of morality that God approves. On the other hand, the devil himself is said to be the father of lies and deceitfulness.  

One of the most profound statements concerning truth is in the Bible book of St. John, Chapter 14 verse 6 where Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  The full explanation of this statement cannot be composed in a few paragraphs.  However, the Bible clearly teaches that only truth the devil can speak is  half- truths that has just enough believability  to sucker  people into believing bigger lies. 

Jesus begins the statement with the words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”. The way means the path, the road, or the means, and the context of the verse indicates He is referring to everlasting life in heaven. Notice that He does not say, “A” truth but, “The” truth Not only does Jesus claim to be the origin and the source of truth but the personification of truth itself. Any successful search for truth must undoubtedly begin with the Creator.  We could then save ourselves a lot of time, and  frustration if we began our search for truth, with God.

But, the most important part of Christ’s statement is the closing phrase, “No man comes to the Father except through me”. Jesus consistently taught that the immeasurable love of God is demonstrated (by Christ’s death on the cross) toward every person belonging to the human race regardless of nationality, color, or culture, and so it is possible that anyone can be the beneficiary of God’s love and mercy. Furthermore, Jesus promised that anyone who comes to Him would never be rejected or turned away. Not even one!

However, it is apparent that it is the exclusive element in the gospel that offends people. This means there is only one way, one gate, and one door that must be entered to experience the infinite riches of Gods’ grace, love, and promises. For the Lord said in another place, “I am the door”. He is the door of God’s provision, design, and construction.   No one needs to search for another way for there is none and besides that, any other way will not be acceptable to the master architect.

Pastor Gene Holman of Living Word Fellowship in Gardnerville is a member of Carson Valley Ministers’ Association