Before anyone ever starts on a quest to know truth, the first question one must ask himself is, is it even possible to know the truth. In our American culture many people believe that there is no such thing as absolute truth – only relative truth – and as a result never even start the quest. But for those seekers who believe that there is real truth to be found, we as Christians, can help point them on the right path. Of course, Christians believe that Jesus is “the way and the truth and the life,” (John 14:6) and that the Bible is our source book for absolute truth. But how can we guide our fellow truth seekers to see the light?
Apologist, Frank Turek, provides us with good insight to one of the main issues for truth seekers when he shares: “A lot of the time people aren’t on a truth quest, they are on a happiness quest. But the only way to get ultimate happiness is to go through truth.”1 Yes, while we all want to find happiness in life, I believe within all of us is a desire to know the truth about the deep questions of life. Questions such as how did the universe and mankind come into existence, what is our purpose in life, and what happens to us after we die, are very relevant to finding ultimate happiness in life. For if we can’t find satisfactory answers to these questions true happiness and real meaning will always be out of our grasp.
Sincere truth seekers if confronted with the truth should be willing to follow it wherever it leads them. Some people say they are truth seekers when in reality they are not interested in absolute truth if it may affect their lives negatively. Take for example the atheist. His belief system provides a hiding place for his desire to not acknowledge and repent of his sins. The atheist smugly demands if there is a God to prove it by performing miracles. However, Ariel Roth, astutely remarked that: “God never performed a miracle to convince an atheist, because his ordinary works provide sufficient evidence.”2 A sincere truth seeker when he contemplates the universe discovers the first big absolute truth – that there must be a God who created it.
But the next big step for our sincere truth seeker is how can he know what God to believe in since every religion has their own concept of God? Lee Strobel once remarked: “Other religious leaders say, ‘Follow me and I’ll show you how to find the truth.’ But Jesus says, ‘I am the truth.’”3 As a Christian I agree with Andy Bannister when he says: “Christianity is not true because it works. But I wholeheartedly believe it works because it’s true.”4 The big question is how can we show our truth seeker that Christianity is the only source of absolute truth. The short answer is we can’t. Only the Holy Spirit can open his blind eyes and provide the conviction power that is needed for him to realize he is spiritually bankrupt and in need of repentance from sin.
When we meet a truth seeker, as Christians, our role is to present them with a clear gospel message and uphold them in prayer. This combination of sharing the word and prayer are the most powerful weapons we have to fight for the soul of our unbelieving truth seeker.
Sadly, many people are not interested in seeking the truth because they love living in the darkness and enjoy their sinful lifestyle too much to consider Christ. But for those who want to know the truth, I believe, God will send people into their lives with the message of the gospel. Our role as Christians is to simply share the message and pray for the conviction of sin by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 3 Christian Quotes & Sayings by Frank Turek (Quotations) (allchristianquotes.org)
2 Is There Really Something Beyond Us? Part 5 – Truth, Faith and Reason (truthfaithandreason.com)
3 Are There Many Paths to God? | Christian Bible Studies (christianitytoday.com)
4 Dr Andy Bannister on ‘what would make you abandon your faith?’ – Inspire Magazine