Everyone wants to know the truth. Since the address of this website is Seeking the Truth, it might seem sensible to believe that truth is contained on this site, or at least some instruction on how one could obtain truth from the Bible.
In preparing for this article I considered using various definitions of truth both from secular and religious sources. However after commencing I realized the problem is not with the definition of truth, but rather the declaration of this thing or that thing being truth.
Remember when Yeshua (Jesus) was before Pilate (John 18:28-40), Pilate, in questioning Yeshua, asked him "Are you a King then?" Yeshua answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." (v. 37) Pilate then said to Him "What is Truth?" (v. 38). This is the age-old question. What is truth?
Many congregations, sects, branches, and divisions, all claim to know truth, deriving it from the same text. This results in many interpretations of truth. A skeptic quickly points out that there is division, controversy, and there is no harmony. Seeing there is controversy, where do we go for truth? Let’s take a look at God’s Word again. Of course the introductory sentence on our home page, ‘We believe that Yahweh's truth is found in His complete Word (Genesis through Revelation)’ must be the basis for any study into God’s Word.
God is Truthful:
And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
(Exodus 34:6 NKJV Throughout unless noted)He is
the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He. (Deuteronomy 32:4)God’s Word is Truth:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14)Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
(John 17:17)God’s Way is truth:
All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth, To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.
(Psalms 25:10)
Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.
(Psalms 86:11)At this point we have let God Himself declare that He is full of truth. We have also seen that His Way and Word is truth. But how do we obtain this truth?
We must serve God in Truth:
Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
(1 Samuel 12:24)The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.
(Psalms 145:18)God is the revealer of truth:
… I will heal them and reveal to them the abundance of peace and truth. (Jeremiah 33:6)
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
(Amos 3:7)Some may say, "I am a sinner. God won’t reveal His secrets to me!"
But God is full of mercy. He is patient and quick to forgive. We need to seek Him.
If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7:14)Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!
(Psalms 119:2)
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
(Matthew 7:7)Yeshua Himself said, "Seek and you will find". So we need to seek God’s truth, His ways and His instruction.
Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD’S anger.
(Zephaniah 2:3)God will reward those who seek Him.
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
(Hebrews 11:6)Is it truth you seek? Go to God in prayer; then turn to His Word. He promises to reward diligent effort.
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
(Jeremiah 29:13)And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
(Psalms 9:10)What did Yeshua say to those who believed in Him?
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
(John 8:31-32)At this point we must be very careful, don’t be led astray. Many are out to deceive. Many do what is right it their own eyes. Even those who are sincere can lead others astray.
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."
(Isaiah 55:8-9)We must be firmly rooted in God’s Word. Praise our Master that we have his Word to study, Thank Him daily that we can turn to Him and ask for understanding. [Psalms 119:130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.]
Conclusion - What is truth?
God is full of truth, His way is truth, His Word is truth, our part is to diligently seek, ask, and find the truth in His Word. If we do this we will obtain wisdom and understanding. [Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding]
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
(Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV)(Click for more Scripture study.)