"The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." Those words are used as witnesses take the stand in a courtroom. But in every aspect of life, we need the truth, expect the truth, and depend on the truth.
If you are lost in an unfamiliar area and ask a stranger for directions, you reasonably expect to be told the truth. If you call your doctor's office for results of your medical test, you certainly assume that you will be given the truth. Even if you ask the score of a game, you figure on getting the truth. In both important and in trivial matters, we have every expectation of receiving the truth. The truth is vital to human life and our life as a society. Why is that?
GOD IS TRUTH
The reason that truth is essential for us is that truth is intimately related to God Himself (1 John 5:20). Because of this relationship to God, we could say that truth is sacred.
The Father is truth. His word is truth (cf. John 17:17). And the Father seeks for those who will worship in spirit and truth (cf. John 4:24).
Jesus, the Son of God, is full of grace and truth, and grace and truth come to us through Jesus (cf. John 1:14,17). Jesus said about himself, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (John 14:6). And before Pilate, Jesus gave as his reason for coming into the world "to bear witness to the truth" (cf. John 18:37).
The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of truth five times in the gospel and letters of John.
God is a God of truth and, therefore, God's word is truth!
GOD'S WORD IS TRUTH
It is interesting the word "truth" occurs approximately 333 times in Scripture - 224 in the Old Testament and 109 in the New Testament (25 times in John's gospel alone and 37 times in the letters of John).
Jesus prays to the Father, "Your word is truth" (John 17:17). Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, would guide us into all truth and would speak the truth to us (cf. John 16:13).
The Second Vatican Council states this concerning God's word in Scripture: "Therefore, since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching firmly, faithfully, and without error that truth which God wanted put into the sacred writings for the sake of our salvation" (Divine Revelation, 11). The text goes on to quote 2 Timothy 3:16-17, which begins, "All Scripture is inspired by God..."
Therefore, Scripture is called "the word of truth" in four places: Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:15; James 1:18.
So, God's word is truth, but we need to realize a sad fact today, and that is...
GOD'S WORD OF TRUTH IS UNDER ATTACK
It is being attacked not only but especially in the following areas:
Regarding gender...Just how many genders are there, anyway?We know from Scripture, biology, and common sense that there are two and only two - male and female (Genesis 2:18-25).
Regarding various kinds of sexual sin...Various types of sexual sin are forbidden in the Old Testament and also in the New Testament in at least 15 different passages, frequently adding that those who do such things "will not inherit the kingdom of God." Sexual activity is restricted to spouses in a valid marriage between one man and one woman.
Regarding homosexual activity...This is absolutely forbidden in the Old Testament as well as in the New, especially in Romans 1:18-32. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that homosexuality is "objectively disordered" and that these sins are acts of "grave depravity" and cannot be approved under any circumstances.
WHAT MUST WE DO?
In light of this attack on God's word of truth, we need to do the following:
Bear witness to the truth, as Jesus did (cf. John 18:37). That is to say, we need to know the truth of God's word, live out the truth in our own lives, and stand for the truth when it is attacked.
Walk carefully and watch out for the "potholes of deception." Like potholes, deception is all around us. Be careful not to fall into the pothole of deception.
Stand firm in the truth against the lies of the devil. Jesus calledSatan "a liar and the father of lies" and said there is no truth in him (cf. John 8:44).
Remember these strong words from St. Paul: "Even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8). Paul said this in verse 8 and he felt so strongly about it that he repeated it again in verse 9!
WHAT IS THE LAST WORD?
The last word is always God's word, which stands forever (cf. Isaiah 40:8). And so the last word is simply this, no one, not even an "angel from heaven," can change God's revealed word of truth. Heaven and earth will pass away, but God's word will never pass away (cf. Matt. 24:35).
I remember an old saying I heard long ago and I leave you with it now: "God said it. I believe it. That settles it." Amen!