In our society we are overwhelmed with information. There is a 24/ 7 news cycle on multiple channels and platforms. There are Ted Talks and Master Classes available anytime we choose to sit still and watch. There are growing numbers of podcast to tell us everyone’s opinions and beliefs. There are multiple social media platforms with algorithms designed to observe our likes and interests so that we will be fed more of the same. If you want to hear it. or discuss it, or learn about it, it is available somewhere on your phone. Always in your hand. Always ready to give you more confirmation on whatever you currently believe is true.
But is what you believe to be true. really true? With so many people waiting to give us what we want, how do we know if we want the truth or do we just want someone to agree with us and say “Yes, you really do know what is happening!” With so much knowledge around us, have we become spoiled children who only need someone to smile and tell us how smart we are by agreeing with us? That’s a bit scary to think we can be so easily deceived by algorithms, con artist advertisements, and money hungry manipulators!
“What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.
We are not the first generation to wonder where the truth can be found. The question is old and many have tried to answer it. But before Pilate asked his famous question about truth while questioning The Truth, Jesus said this.
Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”
Sometime earlier, Jesus was teaching his disciples and he said this about himself.
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
As Christians we believe and confess that Jesus is The Truth. Before His death Jesus told His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit to lead them into all truth.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
We are Christians living in the world wondering and arguing over which channel, podcast, or speaker tells the truth. We question constantly. Who is responsible for those problems? Who created this failure? Where did they go wrong? Which side will help us tomorrow? Who will tell the truth about what really happened?
We seem to have forgotten that we have immediate and private access to The Truth. He probably will not tell us all the latest gossip. But Jesus will tell us the truth about ourselves. He will tell us how to spend our time to benefit ourselves and those around us. He will tell us when to stop watching something that is not good for us. If we begin a daily habit of asking Jesus to direct us and help us understand how and where to spend our time then we will begin to tune into the truth we need to hear. We will find ourselves focused more on truths that involve less finger pointing, less gossip, less blame shaming information. Rather we will begin to focus on more life affirming information, more helpful ideas, and more thoughts in line with what Jesus wants us to believe.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
This change in focus from everything that is offered to things Jesus approves will not be easy. It requires choosing new daily habits. If requires learning to set aside our egos and self-promoting beliefs. It requires humbling ourselves and letting Jesus and the Holy Spirit teach us. It will not be easy. It will not always feel good. Sometimes it will challenge everything we think we know and believe.
Colossians 2:2-4
2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. (Bold type added for emphasis by author.)
These words were written by Paul, a man God entrusted with nurturing the growing church after Jesus’ ascent to heaven. Paul, the man entrusted by God to write many of the books in the New Testament which have nurtured Christians for centuries. Paul who was first known as Saul. A man who originally wanted to arrest and murder the followers of Christ.
As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.
9 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Saul was a Pharisee who tried to prevent the new church from spreading. He believed in the Jewish laws and history. He was fully committed to living the most holy life possible. Even by stopping the church from altering the Jewish traditions and beliefs. But Saul was wrong in his complete commitment to the Jewish laws and traditions. He could not see the new revelation God was offering. Saul became Paul when he fully committed himself to God’s way rather than everything he knew to be true. God was doing something new and different. Something never seen in history. Something no Jewish person could image. God was offering a new relationship between followers of Jesus and the Holy God through the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus. God was also offering the indwelling Holy Spirit to help people understand the truth of God.
There are lessons for us in the fact that God called someone so fully committed to Judaism and opposed to following Jesus. When Saul came to follow Jesus, he had to give up his understanding of truth and accept the unimaginable truth of Jesus. Paul had to give up everything he knew and humbly start over completely committed to everything he previously opposed. Like Paul we must decide if we are willing to accept The Truth or do we continue with what we know taking comfort in our ability to understand. Are we ready to let go of our beliefs and let the Holy Spirit teach us the ways of God more fully?
For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Are you ready to ask God to lead you into knowledge, wisdom, and understanding? Are you willing to give up trying to understand what is happening and turn fully to God? Are you able to stop scrolling, stop repeating other people’s thoughts and opinions? Are you willing to focus on God alone and trust Him to tell you what you need to hear?
Sounds rather easy until a friend interrupts your coffee break to gossip about the latest news being spread around. Our itching ears can’t wait to feel the soft rubbing of another person’s gossip. It feels as though someone is scratching a spot you cannot reach. “Oh yes, yes, yes. We knew that was true all along. We were just waiting for those people to confirm it. Surely those people must be right!”
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
We really do not know if human beings are felling the truth or misleading us. Because a person believes they know what is happening does not make it the truth. The only one who really knows the truth is Jesus, The Truth. God is all knowing. He knows everything that has happened and everything that will happen. He knows the truth about us and all our desires. He knew it all, 10,000 years before we were born.
139 O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up;
You understand my thought afar off.
3 You comprehend my path and my lying down,
And are acquainted with all my ways.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out.
If we decide we want more truth in our lives and less human deception, how do we find it. There are a few ancient habits to finding the Truth which Christians have employed for centuries. First, we must recognize that not everyone who claims to follow Jesus is actually following Jesus rather than following their own desires and egos. Not everyone who attends church is following Jesus. Some will use Jesus as a way to manipulate others. As with everyone since the beginning of time, some true believers are seriously misguided.
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Now, it is getting all scary and confusing again. For me, following Jesus is not about ticking off boxes of dos and don’ts. It is not about being a child who is given regular test to judge my learning. Rather it is about a relationship with Jesus and daily dependence on Him to lead me. Most mornings I read the Bible and pray about the day ahead. Several times during the day, I discuss things with God. I memorize Bible verses that help me focus on what Jesus believes. I attend church regularly and actually listen to what is being said. I read Christian authors who reenforce their beliefs with scripture. I read biographies and testimonials of Christians. I study the Bible. Perhaps, most importantly, I daily humble myself before God by admitting to myself and declaring to God, that I need God. I am not capable of understanding anything on my own. I have made too many mistakes to believe I know how to live my life under my self-directed guidance. I need God and I know I need God.
In some ways I’ve lived a difficult life but I have also lived a very blessed life. I knew from a very early age that God is real and He is important in my life. I knew this down to every bone and fiber in my being. God is more real to me that my own life. I trust God more than anyone else. He is as close to me as my very breathe. This leads me to spending most of my life learning about God, wondering about God and trying to understand what is God doing. I have asked the proverbial question, “Why God, why” thousands of times.
I have left the church, left Christianity, and left God, only to fine myself lonely and missing Him. I return to Him, not because He does what I want, or gives me what I want. Not because He makes my life easier. I return to Him because I love Him and do not want to be without Him. The cost it inflicts on me is minor compared to the love He has for me. I can endure many things, but I cannot live without God in my life. I need Him. I want Him. I trust Him. He is mine and I am His.
You can have this type of close relationship with God also. Many Cristians through the centuries, taled about God as I do. I am not the only one. God loves you and is waiting for you. He wants a relationship with you. Relationships take time. You will need to spend time with God daily. If you do not know how to make time, simply start by asking Jesis to help you learn how to increase time with him. How to strengthen your relationship with him.
He is waiting to tell you the truth. You only need to take the time to humble yourself and ask. Ask everyday for the rest of your life. He is waiting.