Seeking TruthExemplo

Discerning Truth From Falsehood

‘...but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.’

(1 Thessalonians 5:21 NLT)

We are encouraged in modern culture to ‘follow your truth.’

Have you heard that said?

Whilst this appears freeing on the surface, I believe that it has the opposite effect.

Like children need boundaries to help them learn safely, I believe adults need boundaries to help them live safely.

Let me expand...

If you put a baby in a playpen and let them roam freely within it, you are – as a responsible parent – giving them safe parameters to explore, whilst also protecting them from the fireplace outside of the playpen, the sharp corners of the coffee table, the electrical sockets... the list goes on.

I liken the playpen to the Bible.

If you are a believer in Jesus, you have the gift of the Bible as the very words of God as written by multiple authors inspired by the Holy Spirit throughout history.

You have the truth. Direct from God.

This book is full of guidance for life, stories of how humans have behaved – rightly and wrongly – in history and the consequences that those behaviours have provoked from God, our Creator.

The beauty of the Bible is that it is both good and true.

Now, you may disagree with me if you do not have a relationship with Jesus or a faith in God but, after actually reading the Bible, it is hard to say that the contents do not promote and advocate for living a good life.

Living according to the truth of the Bible is far safer than living according to your own personal truth.

The benefits of having one plumbline in the Bible is that we all know where we stand.

When we follow our ‘own truth,’ we each have a yard stick to measure our behaviour by that is specific to us. This is not and can never be authentic truth.

The Bible teaches us to test everything that is said.

We are to measure it against the truth of the Bible.

Whether we are listening to a podcast, reading a book, watching the news or even sitting listening to a preacher in church, we need to test and approve all that is offered to us through the lens of the truth of the Bible.

Discernment is another skill necessary to develop when trying to ascertain what is true and false.

Discernment is the ability to perceive by using your senses. It is the use of judgment or understanding to arrive at a conclusion.

Without discernment we end up ‘following our own truth’ without truly knowing deep within our soul and spirit what the right thing to do/say/believe is.

Between the truth of the Bible and the guidance of the Holy Spirit (more on that later) we have all we need to conscientiously follow Jesus and live a good life.

Father God,

I pray that you will help me to always discern truth from falsehood. Even as I get to know you better, direct my heart to appreciate and know truth and good.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.