January 2025
How Important Is Truth?
How important is Truth to You?
When you make decisions, do you make sure you have reliable, accurate information on which to base your decision?
How about when you visit the doctor? A visit to your doctor to diagnose an ailment is accompanied by a range of tests that provide information to doctor and patient. The truth of these test results plays a vital role in identifying the correct course of treatment, and possibly the course of your life thereafter.
In this modern age we are not short of things to do or activities to fill each day. The ubiquitous smartphone provides a compelling and ever-present link to friends, family, and acquaintances, and even to those we do not know. It also serves up personalized, pre-selected sources of information that constantly interrupt, inform and seize control of our consciousnesses.
With on-demand access to all of this information and advice, together with the accumulated historical experiences of several millennia, it might reasonably be expected that people today would be better informed, better prepared, and closer to understanding real Truth than any generation that came before them.
How about when you visit the doctor? A visit to your doctor to diagnose an ailment is accompanied by a range of tests that provide information to doctor and patient. The truth of these test results plays a vital role in identifying the correct course of treatment, and possibly the course of your life thereafter.
In this modern age we are not short of things to do or activities to fill each day. The ubiquitous smartphone provides a compelling and ever-present link to friends, family, and acquaintances, and even to those we do not know. It also serves up personalized, pre-selected sources of information that constantly interrupt, inform and seize control of our consciousnesses.
With on-demand access to all of this information and advice, together with the accumulated historical experiences of several millennia, it might reasonably be expected that people today would be better informed, better prepared, and closer to understanding real Truth than any generation that came before them.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. As technology ensured that access and choices expanded exponentially, so discernment, or understanding how to make a correct decision, has appeared to diminish. It seems that increased choice does not lead towards better understanding of the Truth, but towards an entitlement to choose whatever you feel serves you well. But, as with the doctor and the test results, Truth is the only quality that serves you well.
And this is what is happening in the world of faith; many people want to choose a type of faith that fits their lifestyle, with little regard for the truth, or lack of it, behind the claims. Even Christians frequently opt for a “cafeteria” relationship with God, where they can pick and choose the parts of the Bible they wish to follow, and reject the rest.
When you visit your doctor, your physical health depends upon the accuracy and truthfulness of test results to identify the way forward. Identifying the Truth within claims of faith is even more important; the choices you make will lead either to a blissful eternity in Heaven with Jesus your Lord and Savior, or to an eternity of dark separation from Him.
And eternity is a much, much longer period of time than our brief lives on Earth.
And this is what is happening in the world of faith; many people want to choose a type of faith that fits their lifestyle, with little regard for the truth, or lack of it, behind the claims. Even Christians frequently opt for a “cafeteria” relationship with God, where they can pick and choose the parts of the Bible they wish to follow, and reject the rest.
When you visit your doctor, your physical health depends upon the accuracy and truthfulness of test results to identify the way forward. Identifying the Truth within claims of faith is even more important; the choices you make will lead either to a blissful eternity in Heaven with Jesus your Lord and Savior, or to an eternity of dark separation from Him.
And eternity is a much, much longer period of time than our brief lives on Earth.
Up Next: Where Can We Find Truth?
Geoff Glossop
I was born in Derbyshire, central England, lived there for most of my first 55 years, and 20 years ago moved to San Diego. After graduating in Electrical Engineering from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in 1969, I became a computer systems engineer and later moved to software development focused on interactive online learning. For over 40 years, I owned and ran a number of small businesses in these fields. I am an associate pastor at our church, and my amazing wife and I have seven boys and thirteen grandchildren between us, and are now both retired. I recently completed the MA Christian Apologetics course at Biola University. It was not easy to get those academic gears working again after a break of 46 years!
My roots in systems engineering have always encouraged me to break everything down into its constituent parts and to consider the interfacing between those parts. I apply this approach to analyzing the issues within my Christian faith and to interacting with fellow Christians who have expertise in different areas. The foremost aspect of Christianity is Truth. As Christians, Truth is our biggest friend. I never cease to be amazed at the way God’s Word provides worldwide clarity and context in life for people of all backgrounds, experiences, and capabilities.
My roots in systems engineering have always encouraged me to break everything down into its constituent parts and to consider the interfacing between those parts. I apply this approach to analyzing the issues within my Christian faith and to interacting with fellow Christians who have expertise in different areas. The foremost aspect of Christianity is Truth. As Christians, Truth is our biggest friend. I never cease to be amazed at the way God’s Word provides worldwide clarity and context in life for people of all backgrounds, experiences, and capabilities.