During the trial of Jesus Christ, Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) He had the one who claimed to be “the truth” (John 14:6) sitting in front of him, but his frustration over the situation caused Pilate to rush out without an answer.
When I was a kid, I loved watching the old Perry Mason show. I was the only 10-year-old I know that would have told you he wanted to be a lawyer when he grew up. Before I attained adulthood I came to my senses and never became an attorney, however, courtroom drama still fascinates me. People who sit on a jury need to answer the question Pilate asked, “What is truth.” Witnesses will testify the fellow is guilty; others will claim the accused innocent. The parade of physical evidence pointing toward guilt and innocence will march before the jury. They must decide, “What is truth?”
All over the world, in just about every situation, the world is asking, “What is truth?”
Is a baby a baby at conception or not until birth?
Will making guns illegal stop senseless killings or cause more violence by placing us in a situation where only the bad guys have the weaponry?
Is it a person’s choice or their physical characteristics that determine their gender?
Brexit makes us wonder – Is a nation a stand-alone sovereign or part of a global community?
Is Hillary a crook or the answer to America’s woes?
Is Donald Trump the greatest thing that’s happened to America since George Washington or the worst choice we’ve ever had running for President?
Regardless of which answers you give to the questions above; you believe your opinion is correct, or else you wouldn’t hold that view.
About two generations ago in America, the Bible was considered the truth by the majority of people. Even non-Christian, individuals who pledged no allegiance to Christ whatsoever, tended to believe that at least, the Bible’s moral compass was correct. They (the majority of non-religious, non-Christian people) thought that it was wrong to lie, cheat on your spouse, steal, murder, live with someone before marriage among other things were wrong. They believed this because the Bible said so.
Someplace along the way, the truth became relative. A person’s life situation or circumstances became the standard for right and wrong – the standard for of truth. It has now progressed even further. Now the truth is determined only by a person’s opinion.
If the walls in my living room are white, and I can convince myself the walls are brown and believe it with all my heart that the walls are brown, the truth remains – the walls are white. When it comes to truth, opinion does not matter.
If my walls are white and, I start telling people, my walls are brown and 90 percent believe me, it does not change the truth that my walls are white. When it comes to truth, opinion does not matter.
As mentioned earlier, Jesus said He is the truth. The Bible also says of Him, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). If Jesus is the truth and He never changes, then truth never changes. Regardless of my circumstance or opinion, it is still wrong to lie, cheat on my spouse, steal and so on.
Many of the world’s problems and the social turmoil we are witnessing, many of the changes taking place are because people have rejected the truth – Jesus Christ. Some have even reached the point of, “If the Bible says it, I can’t believe it.” Bring up the phrase, “The Bible says …” in conversation and watch; a growing number of people won’t listen to another word you have to say.
To the Christians – it is one thing to say you believe the truth and another thing to know the truth and apply it to your life; in other words, act like you believe it.
How often do you study the Scripture? Along with the study, how well do you live it (2 Timothy 2:15)? Do the people around you see “The Truth” when they see you?
“What is truth?” The answer was sitting directly in front of Pilate. Pick up a Bible and you will have Him, the Truth, in your hands (John 1:1,14).
