The Truth Matters
4-28-01
New Community Church
By Lynn Floyd
“Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place. You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What then is truth?” Pilate asked.
John 8:36-37
What is truth? This is a question so many in our culture today are wondering. Unfortunately many are concluding that there is no truth. It is also just as heartbreaking to know that even those who profess to be Christ followers are having a hard time coming to terms with what really is truth.
A recent survey by George Gallup Jr. revealed a startling trend in our culture. According to Gallup the evidence seems to indicate that there are no clear behavioral patterns that distinguish Christians from non-Christians in our society. We all seem to be marching to the same drummer, looking to the shifting standards of contemporary culture for the basis of what is acceptable behavior.
In the latter part of John 18 Jesus is standing before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Pilate had the authority to execute or not execute Jesus. Pilate is trying to see if the testimony of the Jewish authorities had enough weight in order for him to carry out their desire to have Jesus killed. Jesus declares his kingship (which is a heavenly one). Pilate can hardly believe that and laughingly exclaims You, a King!? Jesus goes on to say that it was for that purpose (his kingship, his rule, authority, influence,) that he came into the world and to also bear witness to the truth. As a matter of fact, Jesus implies, if you were really interested in truth Pilate then you would listen to me!
Pilate was looking truth eye to eye. Truth is of God. Truth is from God. And unfortunately, many like Pilate look face to face with truth and just walk away.
You see Jesus came testifying that God, his plan and purposes were truth. Jesus didn’t come to this earth with a different agenda than his Father’s. It was the Father’s will to send his Son to testify of his authority (kingship) and to the fact that God is true.
There are two models of truth in our world today. Since Adam and Eve these two models have been going on. One is true and the other is false.
The first model is that truth is defined by God for everyone, it is objective and absolute. In other words, what God said and commands is true for all people, for all times and for all places. So, when God says thou shall not commit adultery thousands of years ago, he means it today. Jesus goes on to say that we are not even to entertain the though in our minds.
The second model (and the one we are seeing more and more today) is truth defined by the individual, it is subjective and situational. In other words, what is true for you may not be true for me. When one follows this model they look at the command, thou shall not commit adultery and say well, that might have been true 4000 years ago but this is the 21st century. Everyone is doing it so I will too. In other words choices are made at that moment and depend not upon how it pleases a holy God but how it pleases me.
So, truth defined by God is objective (it is defined outside ourselves). It doesn’t depend on ourselves. Subjective truth depends upon what we think is right or wrong not on what God thinks.
TRUTH COMES FROM GOD
Transition: I want to give some reasons today why truth matters and what happens when truth doesn’t matter to an individual and the effects on our lives.
Let’s talk about when truth doesn’t matter.
I. When truth doesn’t matter to an individual it’s easy to be deceived.
Psychic hotlines; if the world was convinced psychics held all the answers in the palms of their hands why would they put “for entertainment purposes only” at the bottom of the screen during their commercials.
Tarot readings
Dabbling in the occult
Humanism
New Age
False religions
These are powerfully deceiving us every day.
We all want to know our purpose. We all want to know how our lives can be better. We want to live forever.
So, it’s easy to be intrigued when someone comes on the scene claiming promises to better your life or better yet tell you what’s going to happen to you.
For whatever reason, these destructive teachings and philosophies are captivating the minds of many. They sound and look really good. And yet they will leave you empty and unsatisfied and pursuing a deity that doesn’t exist.
II. When truth doesn’t matter decision-making becomes selfish and destructive
When there is no standard of absolute truth we begin living our lives selfishly. We want what we want! A “what’s in it for me” mentality. I want immediate gratification and I won’t stop until I get it. When people do not submit to absolute truth chaos abounds! We see the implications of this everyday. School shootings, suicide, sexual immorality. I’m not saying every person who does not believe in absolute truth ends up shooting someone but I guarantee destructive, unhealthy, wrong choices will always outweigh right choices! The end results are staggering!
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4
Transition: So, why does truth matter so much today?
* Because truth liberates us to make right choices
It frees us from having to face horrible consequences for our wrong choices. We don’t have to live in wonder or doubt. We make right choices based on God’s truth. When we have a sense of right and wrong and know what God says we don’t have to worry about living with consequences. It’s not worth it! Some of you are here today know the pain and suffering that takes place from making wrong choices. You can make right choices.
“Now Joseph was well built and handsome, and after a while his masters wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he refused…How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” Genesis 39:7, 9
When we have a right view of God many choices are eliminated because we know we shouldn’t do certain things because it hurts God and causes horrible consequences.
* Because eternity is at stake
“Jesus answered, I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
We must understand what Jesus is claiming here. There is no other way to God. Jesus IS being narrow minded. Jesus said so himself.. “it is a narrow road.” If this is true for all people, for all times, for all places, don’t you think it is important for people to know truth?
* Because it honors God and shows you belong to him.
Transition: So, how do I discover truth?
First, you have to be convinced that truth comes from God and the ultimate expression of the Truth is in Jesus. Pilate asked, “What is truth?” He was looking face to face with truth. Jesus is King but he is also Truth. Because He is King…he is Truth. He came from God to reveal his authority and to bear witness to the truth of God. Secondly, you need to abandon your worldly compass and begin charting a course for your life by the Word of God (Bible). God shows us what is right and what is wrong for all people, in all places and for all times. When you discover truth you teach it and model it for your children. We shouldn’t just tell our kids that punching is wrong don’t do it. We should day “God wants us to love our neighbor therefore, we don’t hit or be hateful to them." Another example would be instead of telling your child to stop watching that television sit com because of its sexual over tone, say, “Because God wants every person to wait until they are married to have sex, its not appropriate that we watch and enjoy this show. And when our children say, “why is it not appropriate?” We say, because there are consequences when we do this kind of behavior and it breaks God’s heart. He promises a healthier physical and spiritual life if you wait.
I call all of us to discover Truth tonight. To discover truth is to discover Jesus. To get to know Jesus we get into his word. We find out what pleases the Father. And make decisions based on his word.
Today was a sort of introduction to a new sermon series next week. For five weeks we will be talking about reasons many people aren’t interested in the God of the Bible. I hope you will join us for that.
