We live, we are told, in a “post truth” world, in which eternal verities are said to be irrelevant and reason, superfluous.  It is a place where critical thinking is neither valued nor practiced, and the good faith exchange of logical arguments in debate is a thing of the past.

How did we get here?  By rejecting “absolute truth,” by which facts are distinguishable from falsehoods, fantasies, and errors based on objective, empirical data.  The fixed and finite nature of absolute truth is the bedrock of a little thing called, “reality.”  Once this common ground became optional—and therefore disposable—both truth and reality became relative, situational, fluid—anything but solid, reliable and unchanging.  Like the buggy whip, honest dialogue was relegated to the status of quaint relic of a bygone era.

Then came a parting of the ways into “my” truth and “your” truth—meaning merely, the personal experience and subjective perceptions of the respective parties.  Personal truth—which by its nature cannot be questioned, much less challenged—soon devolved into “truths,” a convenient term of art for a grab bag of unproven and unprovable assertions, dubious generalizations, and cherry-picked information, presented 100% context-free.

Masquerading as truth in our day is something called the “narrative” (effectively, state truth, the official position).  It is propaganda that seeks to deceive and manipulate, in which truth is reduced to a viewpoint and framed as either helpful (meaning, consistent with the narrative and therefore, to be promoted) or unhelpful (inconsistent with the narrative and therefore, to be censored and suppressed).  Lies and the willingness to ‘tell and sell’ them, are essential to the propagation, care, and feeding of the narrative, as are the freedom and flexibility to do so with impunity.

At odds with the narrative is something called “conspiracy theory”—an epithet for information that true or not, is not sanctioned by the self-appointed arbiters of truth.  It is a means of delegitimizing content that vested interests find objectionable.  The word “conspiracy” connotes a sinister, shadowy, agenda-driven and vaguely criminal plot.  The word “theory” is meant to suggest pure speculation and conjecture—an unsupported idea that is more than likely wrong.  Taken together, the phrase is applied strictly as a pejorative, justifying dismissal out of hand, no explanation required, lest disfavored thoughts be seriously considered and possibly, undermine the narrative.

The right and left hands of the narrative are the vogue “misinformation” and “disinformation,” terms which are never defined since, to do so would render them less convenient and less powerful.  Broadly speaking, the “misinformation” label is applied to thought and expression that accidently runs counter to the narrative.  ‘You misinformed others, but I’m sure you didn’t mean to.  I didn’t punish you (this time) because your offense was unintentional.  It WAS unintentional, wasn’t it?’

“Disinformation” on the other hand, is a term reserved for situations in which questioning or countering the narrative is sort of the point of the exercise.  It is the cardinal sin of presenting the other side or simply acknowledging that there is one.  Malevolent intent in such instances is taken for granted.  To deliberately cause the ruling class anxiety or discomfort is an open and shut case of malice aforethought that cries out for the harshest possible punishment.

The insidious effects of abandoning the truth aren’t immediately recognized.  It feels liberating at first, to ignore the signs warning of thin ice ahead.  Soon, you’re gliding smoothly along, your blades slicing faster and faster across the frozen sheet beneath them.  Before long, all hesitancy falls away, and a giddy exhilaration seizes you, giving your skates wings—until loud and ominous pops are heard, announcing the sudden appearance of cracks that quickly overtake you, then shoot past, racing on ahead.  It’s about that time that you realize you are in the worst kind of trouble, and you cannot save yourself.  This is approximately the condition in which humanity finds itself today…or will tomorrow.

Forsaking the truth leaves some people credulous, others cynical.  The former will believe almost anything; the latter, almost nothing.

Pontius Pilate, first century Roman governor of the province of Judea under Emperor Tiberius, was of the cynical variety.  Early one morning, a prisoner was hauled before Pilate for judgment as an alleged insurrectionist against Roman rule, a rival to Caesar, urging tax dodging and rebellion.  The prisoner was Jesus of Nazareth.

As he interrogated Jesus, Pilate was surprised that the accused ignored the bogus charges against Him to focus instead on the issue of truth: “Thou sayest that I am a king.  To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.  Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice—”

“What is truth?” Pilate retorted “And when he had said this, he went out again…” (John 18:37-38)

What did Rome’s governor of a restive province mean by this?  The fact that he did not wait for an answer strongly suggests that Pilate did not believe there was one.  Or if there were, that it would come from the lips of the Galilean he was arraigning that day.

If so, Rome’s man was wrong. Had Pilate asked the suspect sincerely, and listened to His answer,  might Jesus have declared (as He had the night before): “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).  Surely Jesus would gladly have confessed that He not only knows the truth, tells the truth, and teaches the truth, He IS the truth!  He is the only way to His Father and the only path to everlasting life.

But Pilate was not the only skeptic in Israel, who questioned the existence, meaning, and worth of the truth—far from it.

Even Jesus’ own [half] brothers did not believe in Him (John 7:5).  [Though they would not accept the truth before the cross and the tomb, they did at least embrace it after His resurrection (Acts 1:14).]

According to the Gospel of Mark (16:9-13), following His bodily resurrection, Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene: “And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.”  Mourned? Wept?  That’s right—despite everything written in the scriptures and everything Jesus had personally foretold, His closest followers were not expecting to see Him again, risen in triumph from the dead.  So, they did not accept the eyewitness testimony of one of their own: “And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her [Mary Magdalen], believed not.”

Several other women from the group added testimony that they had seen angels who told them Jesus was alive, just as He’d foretold:

“…Why seek ye the living among the dead?” the angels had asked.  “He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.  And they remembered his words, and returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.  It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.”  (Luke 24:6-10)

After that, two other close followers of Jesus encountered Him on the road as they walked back home downcast and morose, from Jerusalem.  Now overjoyed, they hurried back to the city and told the others, but “neither believed they them” (Mark 16:13).

Then, there was the Apostle Thomas, absent when Jesus appeared to the whole band in the locked upper room where they cowered in fear for their lives.  Thomas thought the stories told of a living Lord who had been seen, recognized by His voice, even touched, were so much delusional rubbish.  It was Thomas who defiantly declared, “…Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.” (John 20:25)

Eight days later, Jesus again appeared to His disciples, inviting Thomas to do just as he’d insisted upon and urging, “…Be not faithless, but believing.”

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, ‘My Lord and my God.’”

“Jesus saith unto him, ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.’” (John 20:27-29)

I don’t know about you, but I think that these frankly embarrassing accounts, volunteered and carefully preserved by Christians, have the ring of truth.  For me, they are among the strongest evidences of the authenticity and trustworthiness of the testimony.  Did anyone seriously think that these glimpses behind the curtain would help gain friends and followers of Christ?  Who would make up stories like these?

According to the Apostle Peter, who on the night before the crucifixion himself denied even knowing Jesus three times, no one would…or should I say, no one did: “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.”   (II Peter 1:16)

If YOU were setting out to win the hearts and minds of people the world over who don’t know Jesus Christ, would you LEAD with this unflattering material?   Would you even include it?  Would you be willing to suffer persecution and martyrdom for a lie?  It makes no sense, unless…unless of course, it was not a lie, but “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth…”  How appropriate that the traditional oath should end with the phrase, “…so help you, God.”  Because God does want to help you.

In John’s gospel we learn: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned” [Thrilling news of God’s love and grace (undeserved favor) toward us!]: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  (John 3:16-18 emphasis added)

From the Apostle Paul’s letters we learn, “ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold [suppress] the truth in unrighteousness…” (Romans 1:18), and that multitudes who reject Jesus Christ to follow Antichrist will perish “because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (II Thessalonians 2:10)

The cause of their destruction is unwillingness to believe God’s testimony concerning His Son.  They didn’t believe it because they had long since refused to love and accept the truth.  They had never embraced the truth because they preferred a self-excusing life of sin.  Let that sink in.

Our sin separates us from a holy God, leaving us helpless.  But God had a rescue plan ready to go.  God sent His one and only Son, not to condemn the world, but to save it.  Jesus suffered and died on the cross to pay in full the penalty for our sin.  He rose from the dead and freely pardons anyone who repents of their sins and accepts Christ’s sacrifice on his or her behalf, calling on Jesus as Lord and Savior.  HOWEVER, multitudes perish anyway, by their own choice because they reject the truth and with it, their only hope of salvation.

What is truth?  What does it matter?  What is it worth?  I can answer Pilate’s question in one word: “everything.”  The truth is, God’s will is to save sinners who throw themselves on His mercy, trusting completely in Jesus to save them.  Is it your will to come to Him now and be one of them?  If so, read on.  Jesus urges and encourages you, as he did Doubting Thomas, “…Be not faithless, but believing.”

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words, and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can transform you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams, and character).

  SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  (Romans 10:9-10)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)