“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6 (NIV)
Our modern world often says that you can’t know the truth. But you can! Truth is absolutely knowable. In fact, truth can be discovered. Here’s how:
You discover truth through creation. You can learn a lot about truth—about God—simply by looking at nature and studying science. Romans 1:20 says, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse” (NIV). When you look at the thousands of kinds of beetles, you learn that God likes variety. When you see a volcano, you learn God is powerful. When you study our delicately balanced ecosystem, you realize how organized God is.
You discover truth through conscience. The Message paraphrase says it like this: “When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation” (Romans 2:14-15). A sense of right and wrong is woven into all of us. Virtually everyone would agree that it’s better to help an elderly woman cross the street than to push her into traffic. You don’t have to be a “spiritual” person to know that. You instinctively know what’s right and wrong because God has given everyone a conscience.
You discover truth through consideration. You don’t have to simply accept all truth by faith. You also can observe truth, test it, and prove it. The Bible says, “Ponder the path of your feet” (Proverbs 4:26 ESV). God doesn’t want you to drift or to rush through life. He wants you to spend time in consideration and observation. Ask yourself, “Am I on a true path?” And if you’re in doubt, check it out.
You can discover truth through God’s commandments. The Bible is full of instruction and direction. And you can trust it. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right” (NLT).
You can discover the truth through Christ. God came to earth in human form to personify truth. The Bible says that Jesus was full of grace and truth; he was truth incarnate. Truth is not a principle; truth is a person. One of the clearest and most well-known verses in the Bible is: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:6 NIV). The best way to discover the truth is by getting to know Jesus.
It's tempting to think you can’t know anything for sure. But you can! God has provided his creation, your conscience, consideration, his commandments, and—most of all—Christ, so you can know and live in the truth.
What are some things you’ve learned about God by looking at creation?
When has your conscience helped you to know what’s right or wrong?
How has getting to know Jesus helped you understand truth more deeply?