What is truth? Part 1
John 8:31-32…You shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.
When I was growing up, I remember my Mother telling me to always tell the truth. She said it is very wrong to tell a lie, so you must always tell the truth. From a very young age I knew what truth was and what a lie was. This is something that has gone through life with me. I have never been a person who could err on the gray side. I had to always face the truth of a situation no matter the consequences.
As I watch the current events unfolding each day, I see that so many people have no problem whatsoever telling a lie. Furthermore, so many people have no problem believing a lie, even when the truth is much more convincing.
What is truth? According to most dictionaries the definition of truth is:
- Conformity to fact or actuality.
- Reality; actuality.
- The reality of a situation.
What does the world say truth is?
A popular worldview is pluralism, which says that all truth claims are equally valid. Of course, this is impossible. Can two claims—one that says a woman is now pregnant and another that says she is not now pregnant—both be true at the same time?
Also, note that pluralism says that it is true, and anything opposed to it is false, which is a claim that denies its own foundational tenet. The spirit behind pluralism is an open-armed attitude of tolerance. However, pluralism confuses the idea of everyone having equal value with every truth claim being equally valid.
More simply, all people may be equal, but not all truth claims are. Pluralism fails to understand the difference between opinion and truth, a distinction Mortimer Adler notes: “Pluralism is desirable and tolerable only in those areas that are matters of taste rather than matters of truth.” (Got Questions.com)
The real question is how can we know what truth is? What can the truth do for us? Where can we find the truth?
- The fact is that every minute 107 people die.
- 153,000 people day each day.
- Death does not play favoritism-old, young and in between are among the numbers.
- We will all face death at some point.
What happens when one dies?
- Is there life after death?
- Is there a heaven?
- Is there a hell?
- Will it matter what you believed or how you lived?
- Will the way you answer these questions affect your eternal destiny?
Most people believe that the majority of those who die will end up going to heaven.
But what does Jesus say in Matthew 7:13-14
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Jesus said there are few who will find life and many who will choose the paths to destruction. Which group do you belong to? Are you among the few or the many? Are you positive about where you will spend eternity?
Even more chilling is what Jesus said about those who believe in Him as the Savior.
Matthew 7: 21-23
Not everyone who say to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven. 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? And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.
According to this Scripture Jesus says that many religious people will not be in heaven. Merely calling upon Jesus as our Savior is not enough to prepare our souls for heaven. Matthew 7:21 says that we have to do the will of the Father (Jesus speaking).
We must ask some serious questions today:
- Have you done the will of the Father?
- If you were to die right now, would you know for certain, nothing doubting that you would go to heaven?
- Would He say, Depart from Me I know you not?
- Are would He welcome you into Heaven and say well done good and faithful servant?
- Have you ever questioned whether or not you were really saved?
- Do you have doubts, fears, or questions?
Maybe you have wondered about life after death, what your purpose on earth is? Why am I here, is there a God? Does He have a purpose for me?
Many false answers have been offered for these questions. Some contradict the others; some are confusing and distressing.
How can we know the true answers? Which answer is right, does it make a difference what we believe and how we live on earth?
Would you like to know the truth?
Tune in for part two and we will dig deeper to seek the truth.
Blessings, Shelia
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Shelia's Notes 