What is Truth?

Truth. The dictionary definition is all about fact, actuality, what is true or accepted as true.

What is truth for you?

For many, truth is relative. It is their idea of reality. It is whatever they think is right. It can be one thing for one person and totally different for another.

Why, then, is truth important? Who cares what is truth? Does it matter?

The Bible says we need a foundation for life. If it isn’t solid, we can build, but it will all be for nothing. Jesus told a parable about building a house on the rock and on the sand. The man who built his house on the rock is called wise. His house wasn’t shaken in the storm and the flood, because its foundation was sure. But, the foolish man built his house on sand. When the storms came, his house fell in and was ruined. (Matthew 7:24-29; Luke 6:48)

What is the rock in this story? What is this foundation? Read it straight from the Bible:

Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes (Matthew 7:24-29).

The foundation, the rock is God’s Word! To have a rock-sure foundation, we have not only to hear the Word of God but also to obey it.

What is truth?

• Thy word is truth (John 17:17).
• Jesus is truth. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).
• The Holy Spirit is truth. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth (1 John 5:6b).
• God the Father is true. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true (John 3:33).

God is truth, and His Word is truth. God has nothing false in Him, because He is truth.

When Pontius Pilate was talking to Jesus, just before he sent Him to his death, he asked the question, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all (John 18:38).

But, the statements of Jesus right before Pilate’s question told the truth. Jesus—Truth embodied in humanity—said to Pilate, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice (John 18:37).

Are we hearing God’s voice? Are we listening to Truth?

There are lots of voices. Many sound like Truth. Some have elements of Truth, but they twist it. Some are just falsehoods—lies—and those voices don’t represent any truth at all.

How can we be discerning?

I’ve heard that they teach bankers to spot counterfeit bills by letting them see many, many true pieces of money. When they touch or see one that doesn’t seem just right, they know it’s falsified.

How can we know the Truth? Bathe our hearts in the Bible.

I love this quote from Amy Carmichael,

“Never let good books take the place of the Bible.

Drink from the Well,

not from the streams that flow from the Well.”

When we’re daily “drinking from the Well,” getting our dose of Truth from the Source of Truth, we will have sound doctrine. We will make the connections in Scripture from one passage to others, and the Truth of God’s Word will put everything into perspective. We’ll be discerning. We’ll spot counterfeits.

Our lives will be in perspective.

You see, Truth isn’t relative. Your truth might or might not have anything to do with The Truth.

What is Truth? 

God is Truth. The Bible is Truth.

Truth is real and solid. It’s the foundation.