Apologist Norman Geisler once remarked: “Contrary to what is being taught in many public schools, truth is not relative but absolute. If something is true, it’s true for all people, at all times, in all places.”1 Sadly, in today’s culture, truth has been redefined in terms of relativism. In other words what is true for me may not be true for you and what is true for you might not be true for me.
Geisler also makes several interesting observations about truth. For example he states:
“Truth is discovered, not invented. It exists independent of anyone’s knowledge of it. (Gravity existed prior to Newton.)
“Truth is transcultural; if something is true, it is true for all people, in all places, at all times (2+2=4 for everyone, everywhere, at every time).
“Truth is unchanging even though our beliefs about truth change. (When we began to believe the earth was round instead of flat, the truth about the earth didn’t change, only our belief about the earth changed.)
“Truth is not affected by the attitude of the one professing it. (An arrogant person does not make the truth he professes false. A humble person does not make the error he professes true.)
“All truth claims are absolute, narrow, and exclusive.
“All truths are absolute truths. Even truths that appear to be relative are really absolute.”2
Fortunately, for the Christian, we can define truth in absolute terms and thankfully, this is spelled out for us in the Bible. Our role as Christians is to uphold the truth of the Scriptures no matter what personal cost it may bring our way. In the last few years in America this has become increasingly difficult due to a massive shift to the left. Terms such as political correctness, cancel culture, and wokeness have become the new filters with which our society views right from wrong and truth. The idea that there is some kind of absolute standard of truth is dismissed and anyone who holds to the teachings of the Bible is ostracized and ridiculed.
Believing in Scriptural truth is becoming alarmingly difficult in a society where new definitions of right and wrong are literally fast approaching normalcy. I believe, that living out our Christian faith over the next ten years in America, will subject us to intense persecution and a lack of the religious freedoms we cherish so much as Americans. But the truth for Christians is non-negotiable and we can never compromise it. Our job is to proclaim it and share it whenever we have the opportunity, with wisdom and love – not to win arguments but to save souls.
Today we are faced with the cosmic battle of the ages – the battle for truth. There is no neutral ground. One either believes in the absolute truths contained in the Scriptures or in Satan’s perversions of the Bible – his lies.
And that is why it is so important that we read, study, and mediate on the Scriptures so we can know the truth and always be prepared to combat error with truth. The world may not like to hear the truth but it is their only hope to escape the bondage to sin that they are in.
My friends as our society continues to drift into a land where the truth of the Bible is rejected we, as Christians, must stay the course and shine for Jesus through our words and the way we live our lives. Remember that society doesn’t define right and wrong and that’s because it’s imprinted on our souls by God. Men can reject it, deny it, suppress it, and redefine it, but the truth of the Scriptures stays the same.
Stay encouraged my fellow believer, though the times are destined to become darker in this post-modern society we live in, nothing can ever put out the brilliant light of the world – Jesus Christ! It’s only the truth of the Bible that can bring real joy to humanity. So, let’s become beacons of the truth shining forth the true light of Jesus into the darkness that surrounds us.
In our society where marriage is being redefined, where gender is no longer straightforward, and where the very meaning of right and wrong has been turned on its head, we must stay ever close to our Savior for persecution is coming our way. But be of good cheer for Jesus will never leave us or forsake us and will provide us the strength to endure and the joy of the Lord!
And always remember: “Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed.” (Proverbs 12:19 TLB).
1 I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist Quotes by Norman L. Geisler (goodreads.com)
2 Norman Geisler (1932–2019) on the Truth about Truth | Crossway Articles
“Our role as Christians is to uphold the truth of the Scriptures no matter what personal cost it may bring our way.”
This begs the question, “what will be our personal cost?”
I Cor. 3
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,” and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.” So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
Maybe we should be asking, “What is our personal reward?”
All things are yours, whether the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours.
Since we possess and live for truth, we are living by God’s standards in His world. Read Deuteronomy 28:1-14 for an expanded view of a blessed life that obeys the truth of God.
II Tim. 3
Here is the unbeliever’s dilemma.
“Always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.”
“So these men also oppose the truth.”
“They will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all.”
Romans 1 says that the wrath of God is against men who “suppress the truth.” Three times, Paul says, “God gave them up” and finally, he says, “They deserve to die.”
If anything, we should ask, “What is the personal cost to those living in a world subject to God’s laws but having no covenant relationship to the sovereign King who will judge them both now and in eternity? His truth they reject will be the standard that determines their fate.
“I believe, that living out our Christian faith over the next ten years in America, will subject us to intense persecution.”
On the contrary, we might see a revival that transforms not only America but the entire world. We’ve already had one Reformation at a dark time in history.
Let’s pray the leaven of the gospel permeates the loaf, that Christ continues to make His enemies His footstool, and that the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth like the waters cover the sea.
All things are ours, the world and it’s present and future. Rejoice and again I say Rejoice!
I will stay the course, along with you Curt!
Elaine