The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Jack H. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - Truth
"Tell me the Truth!" yells the interrogator. Is the interrogator asking for what the suspect believes to be true, or what is actually true? Of course, he does not want an answer as it is perceived by that individual, but as it really happened. He wants to know what is actually true. Truth has become a slippery slope in our society. As a culture we follow no solid foundation that says, "This is true", so we rely on our own perspective, which is tainted by our sinful nature. Many theories have been bandied about in relation to truth; the most popular being that truth is relative and no one can really know the truth. Christians, however have a rock solid foundation when it comes to truth: the Bible.
Truth is relative. It sounds like a nice concept. Each person gets to find their own truth and shape it as they like. But the Bible quickly dissolves this idea in John 1:14 and 14:6. These verses say that Jesus is the truth, and that He came from the Father, full of truth. If truth were relative, then Jesus could not be the truth. He might be the truth for some people, but He could not be the absolute truth for everyone. In 2 Corinthians 13:8 it says, "We cannot to anything against the truth, only for it." In this passage also, truth is not an individual truth, it is something that is fixed, and cannot be changed. It exists without need of human support. Romans 3:4: "Let God be true and every man a liar." If truth were relative, it would read, "Let God be true and every man also be true." Thankfully for us it does not say that. We have a foundation for discerning truth.
The idea that no one can really know the truth is absolutely wrong. John 8:32, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." This verse says that you can not only know the truth, but if you accept it, it will set you free. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 says that men will turn away from the truth and follow myths. If you turn away from the truth, then you had to know the truth first. God shows us the truth through His word. It is our choice to accept that truth and believe
"Be a workman, who accurately handles the word of truth" 2 Timothy 2:15. Christians need to submerse themselves in the truth, to be saturated with it. Philippians 4:8 says that we need to think about and meditate on the truth. John says several times that it gave him joy to hear of others walking in the truth. Truth is a hard act to follow. To walk in the truth is to be constantly thinking, evaluating, and accurately judging what is true. This can only be done in a relationship with Jesus and knowledge of the word of truth, the Bible. As Christians we have the Holy Spirit within us that helps us know the truth. (2 Timothy 1:14)
People are constantly rejecting the truth. Isaiah 59:14b-15a says, "Truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter, truth is nowhere to be found, whoever shuns evil becomes prey." I don't especially want to be "prey" to evildoers of this world simply because I follow the truth, but the Lord made a promise that truth will be restored. Zechariah 8:3, "The Lord will return to the city of Jerusalem and dwell in it, and it will be called the city of TRUTH." I look forward to that day.
