Where can I find Truth?
After King David was caught in adultery he repented, confessed his sins, and wrote Psalm 51. Davids wayward inner attitudes had worked their way out into a life of manipulation, murder, and lust. After he was confronted by Nathan he shared what he knew about God all along, “Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, And in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom,” Psalm 51:6 NASB. David clearly acknowledges his lack of truth in that moving psalm. Later, David would seek Gods assistance asking Him to “Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name,” Psalm 86:11. Many of our lives echo the life of David, walk in the light-stray, walk in the light, stray.
David lacked the daily walk with God. His faith faltered. Like David, we must remember that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. The Truth empowers our faith. Jesus as the Way gives us the pathway to walk, Jesus as the Truth gives us the tools, knowledge, wisdom, insight and guidance to walk His Way. Thomas a Kempis once said, “Without the Way there is no going; without the Truth there is no knowing; without the Life there is no living.” Jesus taught, “you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free,” John 8:32 NASB. If you step back a few steps and look at the life of Jesus you will see that His life was all about communicating the Truth. From the sermon on the mount, to His journeys in Galilee, to His lessons in the Upper Room, Jesus was always teaching, making disciples, and leading them into all truth, His way.
For you and I, Jesus is no longer here in Person. Fortunately, He had a plan and in chapters 14, 15, and 16 He instructed His followers that they would not be left alone but would have the “Spirit of truth.” For Jesus’ disciples today, we are not left as orphans, but are able to be filled with the same Spirit of Truth. Notice in Galatians 5:22 and 23 that truth is not one of the “fruit” of the Spirit. That is because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. He is the source, the means, and the end. If we have the Holy Spirit, we have the Truth and the Truth will set us free. If we want eternal life, we must follow the Way into all Truth. Jesus will lead us with His Spirit if we will simply walk in the Light and Way.
Although the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and leads us to the Truth and Way of Jesus, we still have a part in maintaining the Truth. Proverbs 3:3 says, Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart. NASB. This passage is another way of saying, “Be a person of integrity and excellent character.” You will never go wrong being kind or honest and this is as much a command of God as it is a recipe for success in life.
Another aspect to Truth is the way we are to worship. Jesus told the woman at the well that, "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth,” John 4:24 NASB. There is to be no false attitudes or vain participations. We are to be sincere and pure in our worship. When our spirit connects with the Spirit of Truth we are connected to the throne of God. His Kingdom come and in righteousness. He doesn’t want our attention on the cell phone, He wants our fellowship and admiration. He is the God of all glory and can you think of something worse than flippantly standing before His throne, chewing gum, playing on some video game or texting a friend.
Lastly is our attitude, placement, and handling of Truth. What are your thoughts about the Word of God? Do you read the Bible regularly? Does it move you? Are you avoiding it? The Word of God actual makes us different and unlike secular society. When Jesus was praying for His followers in John 17, in verse 17 He asked the Father to "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth,” NASB. Sanctify means to set apart. The Word of Truth makes us different because it makes us like Jesus.
