The Truth Will Set You Free...

Jesus challenged a group of professing believers in John 8:32 to "Know the truth" so that they could be "Set free." In today's world the concept of an objective absolute truth seems incredibly elusive. So many people, sites, and reports claim to tell us the truth. Yet if there is no objective standard, if everything is relative, if what is true for you is not true for me, if many (seemingly) have their own interests at heart, how do we make discerning choices? How do we walk through this world without being overwhelmed by the lies of the enemy, but also the lies of well meaning believers?

Jesus answered these questions a few chapters later when he claimed, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He claimed to be the only way to heaven, and the very source of truth. All claims are to be measured against his revelation. If we are progressively learning about him, his word, his plan, his will, his very heart - then we will be able to discern truth. We have been given the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). We have the ability to speak truth to the thoughts and temptations that present themselves to us. We can pause and critically examine if a claim or desire is rooted in the power of sin and the enemy of our soul or if it is true, pure, lovely, and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8-9). Our emotions and initial perceptions will almost always be swayed by our circumstances and events. Our response to those events, thoughts, and feelings are entirely within our own control. Will we trust God enough to believe what he said? Will we love God enough to study his Word so that we know what he said?

Now, will we be able to take a political post on social media and run it through Scripture to determine it's veracity? Not in the traditional sense of finding voter counts by state or donor lists by individual. However, we can take the mess our country (and our heart) is in and find the right response. We can take what we see on our streets and find that there is precedent for how God's people should respond. We can take the fear/frustration/anger/tiredness/shock (you pick the descriptor) we have experienced over the past several months and find that he is still sovereign (Psalm 47:7-9, Psalm 11:4), he will not forsake us in the midst of the storm (Hebrews 13:5), and he will finish the work he started (Philippians 1:6). We can know the truth. However, in order to do so, we must know and love the one who is the embodiment of that truth. It is not an instantaneous arrival. It is a process, and the greatest adventure of our life.