Mining for Truth

What is truth? In this world of confusion and speculation, how do I sort the facts from the fiction, the truths from the half-truths, the outright lies from the well-meaning misinformed? It’s an age-old question, but in this time of technology and information, truth seems to be especially hidden, obscured beneath murky waters. Like many people, I have been hoping to find it in a documentary, an academic article, or a presidential press conference. Maybe I can mine it out, scoop and sift to separate golden nuggets of truth from the silt of lies and deception. But to what end? To stand in the virtual world of social media arguing truth as I understand it, adding my voice to the discordant noise? In this overwhelming mass of information, I realize I’ve substituted muddy Google searches for the crystal clear waters found in the pages of my Bible. 

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2 (NASB)

Paul knew a lot of things. He was a highly educated man, an expert theologian by today’s standards. Even with all that knowledge, he boiled it down to one crucial truth, Christ and Him crucified. That is why he could confidently say, “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil 1:21) Paul had a singular focus on the one truth that mattered, the one that promises to set us free from our sin, from our fear, and even from death. 

As Christ-followers, we have to be careful when we wade into murky waters seeking truth. We must be cautious that we don’t hold up our golden flakes of truth and proclaim them so loudly that we ignore the word of God, worth more than the purest gold (Psalm 119:127). We must remember there is a world full of people who don’t know Christ’s truth. If we are not careful, our pursuit of worldly truth will push people down into dirty water, lost and searching, but further away from the only truth that matters.

Confronting my own handling of the truth requires introspection and a willingness to ask tough questions and accept their honest answer. “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” Psalm 139:23-24 (HCSB)

Am I proclaiming Truth that matters for eternity, or am I declaring facts and interpretations marketed as truth? Which am I proclaiming loudest? Does my life profess politics and strong opinions, or does it teach Christ crucified? Am I a picture of a life dedicated to love and service or something else entirely? Christians, it isn’t our job to educate the world from the comfort of our couches; it is our job to glorify God by loving its people and being servants. We cannot do that if we become stuck in the mire of arguments and anger. People will not listen to the truth of Christ if it comes out of lips that have hurt them in a quest to be found right or vindicated. So is it worth being right if that comes at the cost of someone else’s eternity?

These are the hard questions I’ve been asking myself. These are the convictions laid on my heart as God exposes the dangers of information and well-formed intention. I share these because in pondering them, God may expose some hard truths in your heart as well. Maybe God is asking you to set down your mantle along with me and share first and foremost the Truth that changes lives. 

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.’” John 14:6 (NASB). That’s a crystal clear truth that I don’t want to muddy.

“Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:14-15 (NASB)

“If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:31b-32 (NASB)

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8 (NASB)