What Is Truth?
Pilate famously asked this question during his interrogation of Jesus. In response to Pilate’s question, “Are you a king?” Jesus 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.” (Jn. 18:37)
Previously Jesus had responded to Thomas and all the disciples saying,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” (Jn. 14:6)
Research has found that “nuggets of misinformation embedded in a fictional television program can seep into our brains and lodge there as perceived facts.”1 Even if we’re skeptical at first, the study showed that just two weeks after viewing such a program, we’re more likely to accept misinformation as true or possibly true.
One reason for this is that as our memory fades, we no longer remember the source—the misinformation gains credibility as we forget where we heard it. This is called the “delayed message effect” or the “sleeper effect.” The researchers commented: “People are bombarded by mass media every day all over the world, and a sizeable (and growing) body of mass communication research has demonstrated that much of this content is distorted in a multitude of ways.”
What is your source of truth? Radio, TV, internet, and print media are all delivered according to the beliefs, political bent, and worldview of those who prepare the content. Worse yet are those who are deliberately “pushing an agenda” to lead us to accept their viewpoint as acceptable and true. There is nearly universal agreement that we cannot trust the media to tell us the truth. Yet, with all this distrust, millions of people still are glued to the media all day long, day after day.
Our beliefs are only as reliable as their source.
That’s why it’s important to read God’s Word every day. God’s Word is TRUTH (Jn. 17:17). We can count on what we read in the Bible to be true. Interestingly, when Paul instructs the believers in Philippi to “think on these things,” the first criterion listed is “whatsoever things are true” (Phil. 4:8).
Much of our anxiety and worry is based upon the uncertainty of what could go wrong, what might happen. So much of the so-called news paints a scenario of doom and gloom. Sleepless nights and anxious days are wasted dwelling on potential scenarios that are fueled by misinformation.
The Holy Spirit led Paul to address this in the verses immediately preceding verse 8.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-7, NKJV).
Don’t worry about anything. Pray about everything. Plead with God for specific needs for yourself and others. Give thanks for all things (yes, even the difficult things). Finally, think about what is true. What do I know to be true based on God’s Word, God’s character, God’s track record?
God’s Word never changes.
“Forever, O Lord, your word is settled in heaven.” (Ps. 119:89)
No new research is going to come along to disprove what the Bible says. No new revelation will be given that adds or detracts from what God has already given us in the Bible.
Furthermore, God himself never changes.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” (Heb. 13:8)
Finally, God’s care for His children never changes. David declared,
“I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” (Ps. 37:25)
Jesus assured us in Matthew 6:25-34 that God will meet our basic needs of food, water, and clothing. We are to seek Him first and these things will be given us in abundant supply.
If we give our worries to God through prayer, petition, and thanksgiving, God will guard our hearts and minds. We cannot do it on our own.
In Ephesians 6:12 we read, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Satan’s forces are working overtime to rob us of our confidence, our testimony, and our joy. Jesus is our Solid Rock. “Be careful little eyes what you see (ears what you hear)” is just as relevant today as it was when we sang it in Sunday School as young children.
Jesus testified to Pilate that He came to “bear witness to the truth.” His last words to His followers (us) as He ascended back to Heaven were, “But YOU shall receive power . . . and YOU shall be witnesses unto Me . . .” (Acts 1:8).
The world will not know THE TRUTH unless we tell them.
Know what the Bible says. Sift everything through God’s Truth.
Stand firm on what you know to be true. Guard against subtle misinformation that twists the truth.
Speak the truth in love. Take every opportunity to point others to Jesus Who IS THE TRUTH!
¹ Jakob D. Jensen, “The Delay Hypothesis: The Manifestation of Media Effects Over Time” Human Communication Research, Volume 37, Issue 4, 1 October 2011, Pages 509-528.
