What Is Truth?

Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

Today’s big question: what is truth?

Many people ask questions like, “What is the meaning of life?” Before determining an answer to this question or similar questions, it is best to define truth, or more specifically, the source of all truth. If we do not know what truth is, then how will we know if the answer is correct or not? The atheists have concluded that there is no meaning in life, and their definition of truth is that man is the source of all truth.

Truth is something that is without error. God, the Creator, states in His Word that He is the truth (John 14:6), which means that His Word also is the inerrant truth (John 17:17)! If God’s Word had error in it, then ultimately we could not trust what it states to be truth—but this is not the case because God is infallible (i.e., without error). Why then, would people rather trust fallible man over infallible God?

God’s Word comes with the authority of God. We have to know that God’s Word is the truth, so we can trust it as our authority in every area. Even if the atheists speak authoritatively, it does not mean that they have the truth. So when people ask questions like the one above, we will know where to look because God’s Word is the truth.

Sadly, most people—including Christians—end up trusting fallible man and his opinions over God’s Word in order to learn “truth.” Compromising on the truth—God’s Word—by adding man’s opinions to Scripture leads people (including our children) to think that Scripture is, in fact, not the authority of truth. This allows a person to conclude that if one part of Scripture is not true, then the rest might not be true, so “let’s throw out God’s Word, because it is not inerrant and infallible after all.”

This is why it is very important to understand that God’s Word is the truth—inerrant and infallible. So what is the answer to the meaning of life? The answer can be found in God’s Word—the truth (e.g., see Colossians 1:16).

Today’s big idea: God’s Word is the truth, completely inerrant and infallible.

What to pray: ask God to reveal His truth to you.