The Timelessness Of Truth Series

The Timelessness of Truth

John 8:31-36

Rev. Brian Bill

September 30-October 1, 2023

Do you remember the scene from “A Few Good Men” when Jack Nicholson said to Tom Cruise, “You can’t handle the truth?” That’s a good description of the society we live in today where it’s common to hear statements like this, “I have my truth and you have your truth,” and “Whatever works for you is true and whatever works for me is true.” The problem with “this is your truth” is that it may not be the truth – and that’s not just my truth but the truth. Simply because I insist something is true “for me” does not necessarily make it true.

Contrary to popular opinion, there is such a thing as absolute truth, which is defined as inflexible reality. For instance, it is a fixed fact that there are absolutely no square circles and there are absolutely no round squares. Water is wet, not dry. Cheese curds are the best invention of all time.

Or, when I knock something off this table, the law of gravity will cause it to fall to the ground. One can disbelieve in gravity but that doesn’t change its affects when something crashes to the floor. No person would say, “Gravity works for you, but not for me.”

In the trusted source called Wikipedia, truth is defined as, “being in accord with fact or reality.” That’s pretty good. Merriam Webster defines it this way: “Fidelity, constancy, fact.” In a word, truth is reality. It’s how things really are.

The Greek word for truth literally means, “to unhide” or “hiding nothing.” The idea is that truth is always there. Truth may be evaded but you can’t make it evaporate. The Hebrew word for truth means, “firmness, constancy and durability.” True truth is timeless and can be relied upon.

In short, truth is simply what is, and telling the truth is telling it like it is.

Let’s note what truth is not…

1. Truth is not simply whatever works. That’s pragmatism.

2. Truth is not what makes people feel good. That’s hedonism.

3. Truth is not what the majority says is true. That’s relativism.

4. Truth is not believing all truth claims are equally valid. That’s pluralism.

5. Truth is not simply what is believed. That’s gullibility. A lie believed is still a lie.

Chamberlain Ogunedo from Nigeria writes: “Falsehood is so appealingly packaged that without good knowledge of the truth, one could be misled and ensnared.”

The place to begin is always with the question: What does the Bible say? Steven Lawson lays it out clearly: “Truth is that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God. All truth must be defined in terms of God, whose very nature is truth.”

• God the Father is “the God of truth” (Isaiah 65:16).

• Jesus Christ is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

• The Holy Spirit is “the Spirit of truth” (John 14:17).

• The Bible is “the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Let’s consider some distinguishing properties of truth.

1. Truth is divine. Truth is from above, not determined by opinion polls. Ultimately, all truth is God’s truth because He is the sole author of truth. Romans 3:4: “Let God be true though every one were a liar…”

2. Truth is eternal. Truth is not here today and gone tomorrow. What was true yesterday will be true next year. Psalm 119:160 says, “The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”

3. Truth is absolute. Truth is exclusive, not inclusive. Truth is real, not relative. Truth is incompatible with, and intolerant of error. Proverbs 30:5: “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

4. Truth is objective. The Bible is objective truth that is always true in every place and at all times. Romans 1:18: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.”

5. Truth is immutable. God does not change and neither does His truth. Right is always right and wrong is always wrong. Truth is never outdated or obsolete. Psalm 119:89 says, “Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven.”

6. Truth is authoritative. When Jesus says it, that settles it. John 12:48: “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”

I like the wit and wisdom of Winston Churchill when he said, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing happened. The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.”