What is Truth?--Part 2 February 5, 2012

This week, we are watching the second half of the first lesson in The Truth Project. During the lesson last week, we looked at the question posed by Pilate as he judged Jesus, "What is truth?" Dr. Tackett suggests that this single question may be the most important question facing our society today. "What is truth?" In this week's lesson, we see further evidence that God is truth and that the "truth claims" of God are indeed real and valid. Today's lesson looks at the "truth claims" of God in several areas. For example, where God calls for unity, such as in marriage, the world seeks division. Where God requires diversity such as marriage between a man and a woman, the world seems to at least tolerate unification. Where God demands roles, man demonstrates jealousy. Where God calls for responsibility, we live in a culture of blame. When God speaks from authority, we tend to engage in rebellion. When God calls for delegation, we choose tryanny. When God encourages freedom, man chooses bondage to sin and evil. All of the traits proposed by God lead to peace, prosperity, and happiness. All of the traits pursued by the world are illogical, inconsistent, and lead to disorder and death.

If we ask the question, "Who is man?", God says he is created in the image of God, a spiritual being. Yet, the world argues that man is a random creation from the goo of a primordial soup and evolved into his present state. God says man is fallen and is naturally sinful. Yet, the world suggests that man is basically good.

Yes, all of these paradoxes reflect the elements of the Cosmic Battle--good vs. evil, righteous vs. unrighteous, and the truth vs. the lie of satan. Yet, we learn in this week's lesson that the ultimate source of truth is God himself (Col. 2: 2-3). Behind every truth claim of God is the very character and being of God, Jehova, Jireh. We are expected to demonstrate faith in the truth claims of God. We saw a good example of faith like a little child in the lesson today when we say a young child walk to the end of diving board and jump into the waiting arms of his mom who was waiting patiently in the pool. How can you and I demonstrate such faith this week? I hope you will join me in pondering this question this week: "Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?" Dr. Tackett reminds us that we all act based on on what we really perceive to be real. If we believe what God says, we will act based on His guidance.