The Voice of Truth

Truth is not highly valued in our post-Christian society.  I’m not talking about honesty; that’s an entirely different topic.  I’m talking about the pursuit of absolute truth in a relative world.  While many seem to want to acquire the answers to questions about truth, many are unwilling to choose the narrow path necessary to accept the real meaning of truth.

This should not surprise us.  I’ve been reading in the gospel of Mark, and Jesus’ approach to teaching truth can be somewhat unnerving.  He makes it clear that truth isn’t for everyone – that not everyone will accept what he has to say:  “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables” (Mark 4:11).  Jesus also said, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14).

Does this mean that God isn’t offering truth to everyone?  I don’t think so, because 2 Peter 3:9 tells us that “the Lord . . . is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance”.  What I think Jesus meant by his words is what we are seeing in our culture today: truth will not be accepted by everyone because not everyone is fully engaged and willing to interact with truth (Mark 4:33).  Because truth is a revelation of part of God’s character, it is unchanging and demands our attention and response.  There is no middle ground – we either stand for truth (and God) or we stand against truth (on Satan’s side).  (See John 8:44 & 47 and Luke 11:23).

Throughout chapter 4 of Mark (and many other places in the gospels), Jesus also makes it clear what our approach to truth must be if we are to claim to be his disciples:

v. 3 – “Listen!”

v. 9 – “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

v. 23 – “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

v. 24 – “Pay attention to what you hear.”  

v. 33 – “. . . he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.”

We have to block out all the other “voices” in our culture and make a conscious choice to listen only to the voice of truth.  Otherwise, we might miss it.  Only when we truly listen and embrace truth will we have something worth offering those who are looking for the answers – always being “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

 

(NOTE:  Max Lucado’s story “The Song of the King” is a great way to teach children the value of listening to God’s voice in a society with so many options.  The lesson of this story is also important for adults living in a relative world.  Here’s a link to a reading of it that is posted online:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD6bNjJGTwc.)