"Buy the truth, and do not sell it." — Proverbs 23:23"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." — John 8:32"Love... rejoices with the truth." — 1 Corinthians 13:6"Test all things; hold fast what is good." — 1 Thessalonians 5:21
The Plain Things That Are So. They Can Help Us Know. Let's Wisely Apply What We Can Of What's So (I Mean True) And Grow.
The Plain Things Are Not The Lame things.
The sky asks no permission to be blue. The grass does not debate its shade of green. Morning arrives clothed in light, and evening gently gathers the shadows.
The sun rises whether praised or ignored. The moon keeps faithful watch through many nights. The stars quietly testify without raising their voices.
Seeds become harvest. Rivers seek the sea. Fire gives warmth, yet warns the careless hand. Every season keeps its appointed time.
So it is with truth.
Truth does not tremble because it is questioned. It does not weaken because it is mocked. It remains what it is, steady as the mountains, constant as the dawn.
Lies, however polished, are only painted mist. They promise freedom, yet lead into confusion. They glitter for a moment, then vanish with the morning.
Do not chase deception like a moth racing toward a consuming flame. The light it loves is not the light that gives life.
Rather, walk toward the Light that exposes falsehood without destroying the one who comes humbly. Love what is true. Welcome correction. Follow reality wherever God has revealed it.
For every truth discovered is another glimpse of the wisdom and faithfulness of the God who made heaven and earth.
Man, what's not to love with this theme of what's so? It harmonizes with Psalm 19:1–4, Psalm 119:160, John 14:6, John 17:17, Romans 1:18–25, and Philippians 4:8, all of which call us to recognize reality as God has made it and to love the truth rather than exchange it for falsehood.
What's to prayerfully study in this respect?
Does absolute truth exist? Yes, and Jesus taught that he Himself is the way, the truth, and the life, and that no one comes to the Father but through him.
Why truth matters is important.
The logical impossibility of denying absolute truth.
Biblical foundation for objective truth.
Jesus Christ personifies Truth (John 14:6), and he only taught was true.
From there we would continue through:
Absolute truth and logic. They go well together even with science. Real science agrees with the word of God.
Moral relativism and its consequences.
Scientific and conscience evidence for truth.
God's revelation in Scripture. We have old Revelation, we have a Bible. We don't need any new revelation. Illumination of old truth. Sure, that'd be great. New wise applications of old truth. Sure that's so needed.
False doctrine is for us to fully reject.
Essential Christian doctrines versus secondary issues.
How believers with a Bible can recognize and avoid false teachers.
Living as Bereans in a confused culture, That's what's Noble. That's what we are to do. KnowGod.org
The Reality of Absolute Truth
"Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding." Proverbs 23:23
We live in a generation that is overflowing with information, yet starving for certainty. Opinions multiply by the second. Social media rewards whatever is popular, emotions are often elevated above facts, and many people have come to believe that truth is not something to discover, but something to invent. According to this way of thinking, what is "true" for one person may not be true for another.
That sounds tolerant on the surface, but it quickly falls apart when examined honestly.
Before we can discuss absolute truth, we must first ask a simple question.
What is truth?
Truth is that which corresponds with reality. It is what is actually so, whether we believe it or not. It is not created by our feelings, our preferences, public opinion, governments, universities, or culture. Truth exists independently of us.
The dictionary defines truth as conformity to fact or reality. Scripture goes even deeper. God's Word reveals that truth is not merely a collection of correct statements. Truth ultimately finds its source in God Himself.
"The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever" (Psalm 119:160, ESV).
"Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth" (John 17:17).
Truth is not something God occasionally speaks. Truth is woven into His very nature. Because God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18), everything He declares is perfectly trustworthy. His character is the foundation upon which every other truth rests.
As the great theologian A. W. Tozer wisely observed,
"What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us."
That statement matters because if God is who He says He is, then reality must be understood through Him rather than apart from Him.
Truth Is Discovered, Not Invented
Human beings possess remarkable creativity, but we do not possess the ability to create truth.
A scientist may discover the law of gravity, but he did not invent gravity.
An astronomer may discover a distant galaxy, but she did not create it.
A mathematician does not vote on whether two plus two equals four. It simply does.
Reality exists independently of our opinions.
If every person on earth denied gravity tomorrow morning, gravity would continue working exactly as it always has. Likewise, denying moral truth does not erase moral truth.
The prophet Isaiah warned,
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness" (Isaiah 5:20).
Notice that Isaiah did not suggest good and evil change according to public opinion. Rather, people deceive themselves when they reverse what God has already established.
As Francis Schaeffer famously wrote,
"If there is no absolute by which to judge society, society becomes absolute."
History repeatedly confirms the wisdom of those words.
Why Absolute Truth Matters
Some people wonder why the discussion matters at all. Can't everyone simply believe whatever they wish?
In matters of personal taste, certainly.
You may enjoy coffee while someone else prefers tea. One family may paint their house blue while another chooses white. Those are preferences.
Truth, however, is different.
If a bridge is unsafe, it remains unsafe whether engineers admit it or not.
If a medicine is poisonous, sincere belief cannot make it beneficial.
If a pilot ignores reality, passengers suffer.
Reality is wonderfully indifferent to human opinion.
The same principle applies morally and spiritually.
If there is objective truth, then there is objective right and wrong.
Justice becomes meaningful.
Human dignity has a foundation.
Goodness has a definition.
Evil can be identified.
Without objective truth, words like justice, oppression, fairness, evil, virtue, love, and human rights lose any stable meaning. They become personal preferences rather than enduring realities.
The Bible consistently teaches that God Himself is the standard.
"For the LORD is righteous; He loves righteous deeds" (Psalm 11:7).
"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before You" (Psalm 89:14).
God does not consult a standard outside Himself. His holy character is the standard.
The Empty Promise of Relativism
Modern culture often promotes the idea that truth is relative.
According to this philosophy, every person determines truth for himself or herself. What is right for one individual may not be right for another.
At first glance this appears humble and accepting.
In reality, it cannot survive logical examination.
Suppose someone confidently declares,
"There is no absolute truth."
A thoughtful question immediately follows:
"Are you absolutely certain?"
If the answer is yes, then an absolute statement has just been made.
If the answer is no, then the original claim cannot be trusted.
The statement defeats itself.
The problem extends beyond philosophy.
Imagine a society where every driver determines which side of the road feels right.
Imagine judges deciding guilt according to emotion instead of evidence.
Imagine banks allowing everyone to define ownership according to personal preference.
Civilization itself depends upon objective standards.
Relativism borrows from the very absolutes it attempts to deny.
Even those who reject objective morality expect honesty from their doctor, faithfulness from their spouse, fairness from the judge, accuracy from their accountant, and justice from the courts.
Deep down, we all live as though truth exists because it does.
A World Without Absolute Truth
If truth were merely personal opinion, there could be no ultimate basis for condemning genocide, slavery, terrorism, rape, child abuse, or murder.
One culture could simply say those things are good.
Another could disagree.
Neither could claim moral superiority.
Yet our hearts instinctively recoil against such reasoning.
We know some things are truly evil.
Not merely unpopular.
Not merely inconvenient.
Actually evil.
That moral awareness points beyond ourselves.
It points to a holy Lawgiver.
Romans 2:14-15 explains that God has written aspects of His moral law upon the human heart. Even people who have never opened a Bible possess a conscience that accuses or defends their actions.
The conscience is not perfect because sin has distorted it, but it still bears witness that human beings were created for moral accountability.
As C. S. Lewis observed in Mere Christianity,
"Quarrelling means trying to show that the other man is in the wrong."
Lewis pointed out that arguments themselves assume there is a real standard of right and wrong that both people recognize.
Our disagreements actually reveal our belief in objective morality.
Evidence for Absolute Truth
God has not left humanity without witness. The evidence for objective truth surrounds us every day.
1. The Character of God
The strongest evidence for absolute truth is God Himself.
His nature never changes.
"I the LORD do not change" (Malachi 3:6).
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
Because God is unchanging, His truth is stable and trustworthy.
2. Jesus Christ
Truth is not merely an idea.
Truth became visible in the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus did not simply teach truth.
He declared,
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
This is one of the most astonishing claims ever spoken.
Jesus did not say He knew the truth.
He did not say He discovered the truth.
He did not say He explained the truth better than anyone else.
He identified Himself as the Truth.
Every promise of God finds its fulfillment in Him.
Every prophecy points toward Him.
Every page of Scripture ultimately leads to Him (Luke 24:27).
The Apostle John wrote,
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
Later he added,
"Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).
Truth is therefore not cold information.
Truth has a face.
His name is Jesus Christ.
3. The Word of God
God has graciously revealed Himself through the Scriptures.
"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul" (Psalm 19:7).
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105).
"The entirety of Your word is truth" (Psalm 119:160).
Unlike human opinion, God's Word remains forever.
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:8).
4. The Human Conscience
Romans 2:14-16 teaches that God has written His moral law upon human hearts.
Across cultures and throughout history, people recognize concepts such as justice, honesty, courage, compassion, and guilt.
Though our consciences can be ignored or distorted, they still testify that morality is rooted in something greater than ourselves.
5. Creation Itself
The universe displays remarkable order, consistency, beauty, and design.
The laws of mathematics never fluctuate.
The laws of physics do not change according to public opinion.
Day follows night.
The seasons continue.
The heavens declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1).
Creation points beyond itself to the faithful Creator who established its order.
6. Human Reason
Reason itself assumes objective truth.
To say something is logical necessarily assumes that contradictions cannot both be true in the same sense at the same time.
The very act of reasoning depends upon truth existing independently of our preferences.
7. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The resurrection is Christianity's central historical claim.
If Christ truly rose from the dead, then His teaching carries divine authority.
The apostles proclaimed the resurrection publicly, and Paul declared,
"If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile" (1 Corinthians 15:17).
But Christ has indeed been raised (1 Corinthians 15:20), vindicating His claims and confirming Him as Lord.
Jesus Christ: Truth in Human Flesh
Everything ultimately comes back to Jesus.
Christianity is not primarily a philosophy.
It is not merely a moral system.
It is not simply a religion among many religions.
Christianity is centered on a Person.
Jesus Christ is God's final and fullest revelation of Himself (Hebrews 1:1-3).
He embodies truth because He is God incarnate.
He exposes our sin without crushing the repentant sinner.
He offers forgiveness without compromising holiness.
He extends grace without abandoning justice.
At the cross, truth and mercy met perfectly.
Sin was judged.
Love was displayed.
Justice was satisfied.
Grace was offered.
No other worldview presents such a glorious harmony.
As Charles Spurgeon said,
"Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right."
In an age where confusion often masquerades as wisdom, believers must lovingly hold fast to what God has revealed.
Standing Firm in the Truth
Truth is not harsh.
Truth is not arrogant.
Truth is not unloving.
The One who called Himself "the Truth" is also the One who welcomed children, healed the brokenhearted, forgave repentant sinners, wept at a friend's tomb, and willingly laid down His life for His enemies.
The Christian never chooses between truth and love.
We are called to speak "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).
The more closely we follow Jesus Christ, the more gracious, humble, compassionate, and truthful we become.
Absolute truth is not our enemy.
It is God's gracious gift.
It anchors us when culture drifts.
It steadies us when emotions fluctuate.
It exposes deception.
It reveals reality.
Most importantly, it leads us to the Savior who said,
"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).
That freedom is found ultimately not in an idea, but in a Person.
Jesus Christ is the eternal Truth, and everyone who belongs to Him walks in the light of God's unchanging reality.
The Logical Problems with Denying Absolute Truth
Why Relativism Cannot Sustain Itself
"For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding." Proverbs 2:6
Every generation must eventually answer one unavoidable question:
Does objective truth really exist?
That question is far more than an academic exercise. It shapes our understanding of morality, justice, marriage, government, education, science, law, eternity, and ultimately our relationship with God.
Our culture increasingly insists that truth is personal, fluid, and self-defined. We often hear statements such as:
"Live your truth."
"That may be true for you, but not for me."
"Who are we to judge?"
These slogans sound humble and tolerant, but upon careful examination they cannot bear the weight placed upon them. They collapse under the very rules of logic that make meaningful conversation possible.
God is never threatened by honest questions. Biblical faith welcomes careful thinking because the Author of Scripture is also the Creator of the human mind. Christianity has never asked believers to commit intellectual suicide. Instead, God repeatedly calls His people to love Him "with all your heart...with all your soul...and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37).
Faith and reason are not enemies. When reason is exercised humbly and honestly, it consistently points beyond itself to the God who is Truth.
Truth Cannot Be Both True and False
One of the most basic laws of rational thought is the law of non-contradiction.
Simply stated, something cannot both be true and false in the same sense at the same time.
A light cannot be completely on and completely off simultaneously.
A door cannot be entirely open and entirely closed at the same moment in the same way.
Water cannot simultaneously be frozen solid and boiling under identical conditions.
This principle is so fundamental that every meaningful conversation depends upon it.
Scripture reflects this same commitment to reality.
God never asks people to embrace contradiction.
Instead, He distinguishes light from darkness, truth from falsehood, righteousness from wickedness, and life from death.
"Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness" (Isaiah 5:20).
God's warning assumes that good and evil are real categories established by His holy character, not labels invented by society.
The Self-Defeating Claim of Relativism
Perhaps the greatest weakness of relativism is that it refutes itself.
Consider the familiar claim:
"There is no absolute truth."
There is no my truth or your truth. People alway say that's not my truth. There's only one truth. When you hear something said, always ask a simple question:
"Is that absolutely true?"
If the answer is yes, then the speaker has just affirmed at least one absolute truth.
If the answer is no, then there is no reason to accept the statement.
Either way, the argument defeats itself.
Relativism borrows certainty while denying certainty exists.
It demands that everyone accept the claim that no universally true claims can be made.
That is a contradiction.
As Francis Schaeffer frequently argued, modern relativism cannot consistently live according to its own assumptions. Sooner or later, reality interrupts philosophy.
We Cannot Escape Reality
Reality is wonderfully unaffected by human opinion.
A person may sincerely believe gravity does not exist.
Gravity remains.
Someone may reject mathematics.
Two plus two still equals four.
A patient may deny a medical diagnosis.
The disease continues unless treated.
Truth does not become false because it is unpopular.
Nor does falsehood become true because millions believe it.
The prophet Jeremiah wrote,
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9).
Our feelings are real, but they are not infallible.
God's Word, not our emotions, is the final authority.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7).
Moral Relativism Quickly Becomes Moral Chaos
Relativism often sounds compassionate until it reaches the real world.
Suppose one person believes honesty is optional.
Another believes theft is acceptable.
Another believes children have no intrinsic value.
Another believes murder is justified whenever it serves personal interests.
On what basis can any of these views be condemned if morality is merely personal preference?
Without an objective standard above humanity, moral judgments become nothing more than competing opinions.
Yet virtually everyone expects justice.
We instinctively cry out against genocide, human trafficking, rape, terrorism, child abuse, corruption, racism, oppression, and exploitation.
Why?
Because deep within us we recognize that these actions are genuinely wrong, not merely socially inconvenient.
Romans 2:15 explains that God's moral law is written upon the human heart, with conscience bearing witness.
Even people who reject biblical revelation continue making moral judgments every day.
That universal moral awareness points beyond humanity to a holy Lawgiver.
Borrowing from the Christian Worldview
One of the great ironies of secular relativism is that it regularly borrows moral language from the biblical worldview while rejecting the God who gives those words meaning.
People speak passionately about:
justice
human rights
equality
dignity
fairness
compassion
freedom
love
Those are beautiful words.
But where do they come from?
If human beings are merely accidental products of blind, purposeless natural processes, why should objective human dignity exist at all?
Why should one collection of molecules possess moral value over another?
Scripture answers clearly.
"So God created man in His own image..." (Genesis 1:27).
Human worth is not earned.
It is bestowed by our Creator.
Every human life possesses dignity because every human being bears God's image.
Without the Creator, objective human dignity loses its foundation.
Tolerance Cannot Become the Supreme Virtue
Modern culture often elevates tolerance above every other virtue.
Certainly Christians should be patient, gracious, respectful, gentle, and kind.
Scripture repeatedly commands these qualities.
"Let your speech always be gracious..." (Colossians 4:6).
"Honor everyone..." (1 Peter 2:17).
"If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all" (Romans 12:18).
Yet biblical love never requires pretending falsehood is truth.
True tolerance means treating people with dignity despite disagreement.
It does not require affirming every belief as equally true.
Ironically, many who insist that everyone must tolerate all viewpoints refuse to tolerate biblical Christianity.
Their slogan often becomes:
"Every belief is acceptable except believing that one belief is true."
That is not tolerance.
It is simply another form of dogmatism.
Jesus never confused compassion with compromise.
He welcomed sinners while calling them to repentance.
He loved people enough to tell them the truth.
Jesus Rejected Relativism
When standing before Pontius Pilate, Jesus declared,
"For this purpose I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice" (John 18:37).
Pilate famously replied,
"What is truth?" (John 18:38).
That question still echoes through every generation.
The tragedy is that Pilate asked the question while standing face to face with the One who is Truth Himself.
Jesus never spoke as though truth were negotiable.
He repeatedly said,
"Truly, truly, I say to you..."
He spoke with divine authority because He is God incarnate.
Most significantly, Jesus declared,
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
This statement leaves no room for relativism.
If Jesus is the Truth, contradictory religious claims cannot all be equally correct.
Two opposing ideas cannot both accurately describe ultimate reality.
Can Opposite Religions Both Be True?
Many sincere people suggest that all religions are simply different paths leading to the same destination.
The intention may be peaceful, but logic refuses to cooperate.
Christianity teaches there is one God.
Some religions deny God's personal existence.
Christianity teaches Jesus is the eternal Son of God.
Others deny His deity.
Christianity proclaims Christ's bodily resurrection.
Others reject it entirely.
Christianity teaches salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Other religions teach salvation through works, rituals, enlightenment, or repeated lives.
These claims cannot all be true simultaneously because they directly contradict one another.
The Apostle Peter boldly proclaimed,
"And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
The issue is not arrogance.
The issue is truth.
If Jesus truly rose from the dead, His claims deserve our complete trust.
Scripture Consistently Distinguishes Truth from Error
Throughout the Bible, God continually separates truth from deception.
The serpent's first temptation questioned God's Word.
"Did God actually say...?" (Genesis 3:1).
Satan's strategy has not changed.
If God's Word can be made uncertain, everything else soon follows.
The apostles repeatedly warned believers to guard sound doctrine.
"Test the spirits..." (1 John 4:1).
"Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
"Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).
These commands assume objective truth exists and false teaching can be identified.
Without objective truth, none of these commands would have meaning.
Love and Truth Belong Together
Some imagine that emphasizing truth produces harsh people.
Scripture teaches the opposite.
Truth without love becomes cold.
Love without truth becomes sentimental deception.
The Lord joins both together.
"Speaking the truth in love..." (Ephesians 4:15).
Jesus perfectly embodied both.
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
Notice that John does not force us to choose between grace and truth.
Christ possessed both perfectly.
Christians are therefore called to imitate Him.
We reject neither compassion nor conviction.
We refuse neither kindness nor courage.
The world desperately needs both.
Wisdom Begins with Humility
Perhaps the greatest obstacle to truth is not intellectual inability but human pride.
Scripture repeatedly teaches that fallen humanity suppresses truth because truth exposes sin.
Romans 1:18 speaks of those who "suppress the truth in unrighteousness."
Jesus explained,
"Everyone who does wicked things hates the light...lest his works should be exposed" (John 3:20).
By contrast, genuine wisdom begins with humble submission to God.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10).
Truth is not mastered by proud hearts.
It is received by humble hearts.
As Augustine of Hippo wisely said,
"Where I found truth, there found I my God, who is Truth itself."
The Unchanging Rock, Jesus Personifies The Truth. He Is Actually The Way, The True And The Life
Civilizations rise and fall.
Cultures change.
Governments come and go.
Public opinion shifts like sand.
God does not.
"The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations" (Psalm 33:11).
"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away" (Matthew 24:35).
Followers of Christ do not cling to truth because it is fashionable.
We cling to truth because it is eternal.
The Christian faith does not rest upon changing philosophies or cultural trends.
It rests upon the unchanging God who has revealed Himself in His Son and in His written Word.
Truth is not oppressive.
Truth is liberating.
Jesus promised,
"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32).
The greatest freedom the world can ever know is not the freedom to invent its own truth.
It is the freedom that comes from surrendering to the One who is Truth Himself.
When we bow before Jesus Christ, we do not lose reality. We finally see reality as it truly is.
Every false refuge eventually crumbles.
Every human philosophy ultimately reaches its limits.
Every culture passes away.
But the truth of God stands forever.
As Charles Spurgeon said,
"The Word of God is like a lion. You don't have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself." ~ commonly attributed to Charles Spurgeon
Pilate's question, "What is truth?" it still confronts every generation.
Likewise, God's truth does not depend upon our ability to reinvent it or improve it. Our calling is far simpler and far more joyful: to believe it, to obey it, to live it with humility, and to proclaim it with love. In doing so, we bear witness to the One who is "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14), our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Truth Corresponds to God's Reality, to God's Nature, Yes, to His Created Order
"The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever." Psalm 119:160
"In Him we live and move and have our being." Acts 17:28
Every human being lives in the same universe. We breathe the same air, stand beneath the same sky, observe the same stars, and are sustained by the same physical laws. Whether one acknowledges God or rejects Him entirely, no one escapes the reality He created.
Truth is not manufactured by human imagination. It is discovered because it already exists. It exists because God exists.
This simple yet profound reality explains why truth is dependable. It is rooted in the unchanging character of the eternal Creator.
The Bible does not present truth as an abstract philosophical concept floating somewhere in the universe. Rather, truth has its origin in the very nature of God. Everything that is genuinely true ultimately reflects His perfect character.
God Is the Foundation of All Truth
The question is not merely, "What is truth?" The deeper question is, "Why does truth exist at all?"
Scripture gives a clear answer.
Truth exists because God exists.
God has never learned anything because He has always possessed perfect knowledge.
God has never been corrected because He has never been mistaken.
God has never lied because lying is contrary to His holy nature.
"God is not man, that He should lie" (Numbers 23:19).
"It is impossible for God to lie" (Hebrews 6:18).
"In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the ages began" (Titus 1:2).
Truth is therefore not an invention of philosophers or scientists. It is an expression of God's own character.
Everything God says is true because He Himself is true.
Everything God does is righteous because His nature is perfectly holy.
Everything God promises is trustworthy because He is eternally faithful.
Unlike fallen humanity, God never revises His understanding, never forgets, never exaggerates, never deceives, and never speaks carelessly.
The Lord declared,
"I am the LORD; I do not change" (Malachi 3:6).
James echoed the same truth.
"With whom there is no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17).
Because God is unchanging, truth itself possesses permanence. Human opinions fluctuate with every generation, but God's truth remains steadfast forever.
Reality Is Not Independent of God
Modern culture often speaks of "reality" as though it exists independently from its Creator.
Scripture presents a very different picture.
Reality is God's creation.
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).
"All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3).
"For by Him all things were created...all things were created through Him and for Him" (Colossians 1:16).
Reality is therefore not self-existing.
Every mountain.
Every ocean.
Every atom.
Every galaxy.
Every law governing the universe.
Every mathematical relationship.
Every living cell.
Every human conscience.
Every moral obligation.
All owe their existence to the Creator.
The universe is orderly because its Creator is orderly.
The universe is intelligible because its Creator is infinitely wise.
The universe displays beauty because its Creator delights in beauty.
The universe displays purpose because its Creator acts intentionally.
When we discover truth about creation, we are discovering something God has already established.
Jesus Christ Holds All Things Together
The New Testament makes an astonishing declaration about Jesus Christ.
"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17).
The universe is not held together by chance.
It is sustained every moment by the sovereign power of Christ.
Hebrews 1:3 declares that He "upholds the universe by the word of His power."
Every heartbeat.
Every sunrise.
Every orbit of every planet.
Every law of chemistry.
Every force in physics.
Every breath we take continues because the risen Christ faithfully sustains His creation.
If Christ ceased sustaining the universe, creation itself would cease to exist.
The consistency scientists observe is itself evidence of God's continual faithfulness.
Why Science Is Possible
Many people imagine science and Christianity stand in opposition.
Historically, the opposite is true.
Modern science flourished largely because many early scientists believed they were studying a universe designed by a rational Creator.
Men such as Johannes Kepler, Isaac Newton, Blaise Pascal, Robert Boyle, and James Clerk Maxwell viewed scientific investigation as right thinking - thinking God's kind of thoughts after Him.
Kepler famously described his work as seeking to "think God's thoughts after Him."
That sentiment beautifully captures the Christian understanding of science.
Science does not create order.
Science discovers order.
Science does not invent natural laws.
Science investigates the laws God established.
Science does not compete with Scripture because both originate from the same Author.
God reveals Himself in two complementary ways.
He reveals Himself generally through creation (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:19-20).
He reveals Himself specially through His written Word and supremely through His Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:1-3).
Because God cannot contradict Himself, genuine scientific discovery and rightly interpreted Scripture ultimately agree.
If apparent conflict arises, either our interpretation of Scripture needs refinement or our scientific understanding remains incomplete.
God's truth never contradicts God's truth.
Science Depends Upon Biblical Assumptions
Ironically, science itself rests upon truths science cannot prove.
Science assumes the universe behaves consistently.
Science assumes our minds are capable of reasoning.
Science assumes mathematical laws remain reliable.
Science assumes observations today will remain meaningful tomorrow.
Science assumes logical reasoning is trustworthy.
Science cannot prove these assumptions through experimentation because experimentation already depends upon them.
The Christian worldview explains why these assumptions make sense.
An orderly universe reflects an orderly Creator.
Reliable natural laws reflect God's faithful providence.
Human rationality reflects mankind being created in God's image (Genesis 1:26-27).
Without these foundations, science loses its philosophical footing.
Truth Corresponds to Reality
Truth is often defined as that which corresponds to reality.
That definition harmonizes beautifully with Scripture.
If I say water freezes under ordinary atmospheric pressure at approximately 0°C (32°F), the statement is true because it corresponds to reality.
If I say the earth revolves around the sun, the statement corresponds to reality.
If I say human beings are created in God's image, that also corresponds to reality because God has revealed it.
Reality determines truth.
Human opinion does not.
Isaiah declared,
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever" (Isaiah 40:8).
Reality itself cannot overturn God's Word because God's Word reveals reality as it truly is.
Sin Distorts Our Understanding
Although reality is objective, humanity's perception is not always accurate.
Sin clouds our judgment.
Pride blinds our hearts.
Jeremiah wrote,
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick" (Jeremiah 17:9).
Paul explained that fallen humanity suppresses truth in unrighteousness (Romans 1:18).
This does not mean people cannot discover many true things.
Unbelievers make genuine discoveries in medicine, engineering, astronomy, mathematics, and countless other fields because they live in God's orderly world and bear God's image.
Yet apart from God's grace, humanity consistently suppresses spiritual truth while often excelling at understanding portions of the physical world.
Knowledge alone cannot reconcile sinners to God.
Only Christ can.
The Harmony of Faith and Reason
Biblical Christianity does not ask believers to abandon careful thinking.
Instead, it encourages it.
"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD" (Isaiah 1:18).
The Bereans were commended because they carefully examined the Scriptures daily to determine whether Paul's teaching was true (Acts 17:11).
God invites thoughtful investigation.
Christian faith is not blind faith.
It is confidence grounded in God's trustworthy revelation.
Reason serves faith best when it recognizes its proper place beneath God's authority.
Human reason is valuable.
God's revelation is ultimate.
Jesus Christ Is the Embodiment of Reality
Perhaps the most profound statement ever made about truth came from Jesus Himself.
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).
Notice that Jesus did not merely say He teaches truth.
He did not say He possesses truth.
He did not say He discovered truth.
He declared Himself to be the Truth.
Every true statement ultimately finds its source in Him.
Every law governing creation reflects His wisdom.
Every moral standard reflects His holiness.
Every fulfilled prophecy reflects His faithfulness.
Every scientific law reflects His sustaining power.
Every promise of eternal life rests upon His finished work.
John opens his Gospel by declaring,
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1).
Then comes one of the most glorious statements in all of Scripture.
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
Truth walked among us.
Truth touched lepers.
Truth opened blind eyes.
Truth calmed storms.
Truth welcomed children.
Truth forgave repentant sinners.
Truth willingly bore the judgment we deserved.
Truth rose from the grave.
Truth now reigns forever.
Walking in the Truth
Truth is never merely intellectual.
It is deeply personal.
The Apostle John repeatedly urged believers to "walk in the truth" (2 John 4; 3 John 3-4).
Walking in truth means aligning every area of life with God's reality.
Our worship.
Our marriages.
Our speech.
Our business dealings.
Our friendships.
Our private thoughts.
Our public witness.
Our doctrine.
Our character.
Truth transforms because truth brings us into fellowship with the God who is Truth.
Jesus prayed,
"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" (John 17:17).
God does not sanctify us through illusion.
He sanctifies us through reality.
The Rock Beneath Our Feet
Our world constantly changes.
Ideas come and go.
Political systems rise and fall.
Scientific theories are refined as new discoveries are made.
Cultures shift.
Technology advances.
God does not change.
Neither does His truth.
The Christian therefore possesses an anchor no storm can move.
Not because believers are wiser than others.
Not because the Church is flawless.
Not because Christians have every answer to every question.
Our confidence rests in the God whose understanding is infinite, whose character is perfect, whose promises cannot fail, whose Son is the Truth incarnate, and whose Word endures forever.
To know the truth is ultimately to know Jesus Christ.
To reject Him is not merely to reject one religious option among many. It is to turn away from the very foundation of reality itself.
The greatest discovery anyone can ever make is not hidden in the depths of space, buried beneath the earth, or revealed under a microscope.
It is found at an empty tomb outside Jerusalem.
There the risen Christ forever declared that truth is not an illusion, not a human invention, and not a matter of preference.
Truth has a name.
His name is Jesus Christ, "the faithful and true witness" (Revelation 3:14), "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14), "the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), and "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
To Him alone belongs all glory, now and forever. Amen.
