The need for truth in the 21st century is critical. So much so that, businesses have been created to “fact check” and validate the statements of both institutions and individuals.
Truth is often “relaxed” in order to makes people feel good. We are more concerned with being inclusive and tolerant of what people believe rather than acknowledge the reality at hand. Unfortunately, “a lie believed can still be a lie.”
Therefore, we are compelled to continue our search for truth–a validation of the reality we must eventually face. (Acceptance is another matter.)
Last week we questioned our ability to handle the truth in 2021. We now expand that discussion to determine where truth can be found.
Why is Truth Important? [1]
Simply because life has consequences for being wrong. Giving the wrong amount of a medication can kill them; having an investment manager make the wrong monetary decisions can impoverish a family; boarding the wrong plane will take you where you don’t wish to go; and dealing with an unfaithful marriage partner can result in the destruction of a family potentially, disease.
As Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias puts it, “The fact is, the truth matters—especially when you’re on the receiving end of a lie.” And nowhere is this more important than in the area of faith and religion. Eternity is an awfully long time to be wrong.
A Warning on Truth
The Apostle Paul warned the young minister Timothy of the dangers that awaited him as new converts would “turn away their ears from the truth, and be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:4).
Unfortunately today, truth is being re-packaged in many forms. It is being shrouded in speculation and creative editorializing, rather than substantive truth; shouting matches for the minds of men.
Because of this trend, it is important that we have a real-time, reliable, and trustworthy source to help us ferret out truth in the world. God has provided that source—the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth.
Truth and Reality
Earlier we defined truth as that which agrees with reality. For the believer today, our reality has been defined by what God has placed in His written Word. For the disciples in our text, however, there was no written Word as they faced a hostile world without Jesus (John 15:18-20).
It was Jesus’ presence that gave them the courage to challenge the error of the political and social systems; to reject the spiritual tyranny of the religious leaders.
Absent Jesus, the disciples would need God’s truth as they turned their focus to witnessing (Acts 1:8), baptizing, and teaching (Matt. 28:19-20).
The Truth Giver
Jesus promised to send the Spirit of Truth that would abide with His disciples forever (John 14:16-17). It was the Holy Spirit Who would now come to live within them.
We generally think of the Holy Spirit in terms of gifting or empowering believers to accomplish the purposes and ministries of Christ. However, the attribute Jesus chose to highlight with His disciples in John’s text focused on “truth”.
It would be the Spirit of Truth that would assist the disciples as they were persecuted for their belief in Jesus Christ. They would be tempted to denounce and deny Him Whom “the world could not receive, because it neither saw Him nor knew Him” (v. 17). They would need the Spirit of Truth to call “to remembrance” the life and ministry of Jesus Christ—especially His work of salvation for sinners (John 14:26).
Spirit of Truth versus Spirit of Error
Like the disciples of the first century, we have the assistance of the Spirit of Truth to assist us in exposing the spirit of error.
The spirit of error is seen in the immoral practices and life styles of the world. It can also lead to social injustice and human inequities as truth is replaced with “what works for right now.”
The spirit of error ultimately leads to deception and disobedience to the purposes of God (Ep. 2:2). It tempts us to doubt God’s truth and draws us away from the leading of the Holy Spirit (2 Thess. 2:15).
The Spirit of Truth stands ready to silence the lies, the myths and the fables of the 21st century. Our confidence lies in the promise, power, and presence of the Spirit of Truth. He is our True Guide as we search for truth.
[1] Gotquestions.net/what is truth?