The Whole Truth

     My grandfather was a good criminal attorney, and I remember going to some of his trials and hearing the oath given to witnesses before they entered the stand.  "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"  The bailiffs question usually was followed by an "I do", but in today's world, we aren't certain that truth means as much as it used to.  What we see and hear in the news can be slanted, misrepresented or totally false.
     For example, today a commentator said that a major news network put out a video of an "alleged" town in Syria being attacked by Turkish troops.  It gave the appearance of a horrible situation.  Come to find out, someone recognized the scenery in the video and did a little research.  As it turns out, the "so-called" village was really a gun range in Kentucky, and the video was shot in 2016.  The story was run to give an impression that was false.  So what can we believe when we watch the news?  What is true and what is truth?
     Jesus put this question to Pontius Pilate when He was brought to stand before him.  John 18:37-38 says:  7Then Pilate said to Jesus, 'So you are a king, are you?' Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.' 38Pilate said to him, 'What is truth?' After saying this, he went back out to the Jews and told them, 'I find no guilt in him'”  For Pilate, there was no absolute truth...only expedient truth.  It was relative depending on the need of the moment.  In Pilate's eyes, Jesus was innocent, but for the Jews, Jesus was guilty.  So, Pilate washed his hands of the matter and let the Jews declare Him guilty.  This kind of approach to the truth is very dangerous.  In reality, it is contradictory.  Without a solid foundation upon which to base our conclusions, we might as well be standing on quick sand.  However, God has laid a sure foundation for truth which is based upon His Word.
     Psalm 19 clearly points this out in verses 7-11:
       "The law of the Lord is perfect,
        reviving the soul;
        the testimony of the Lord is sure,
        making wise the simple;
        the precepts of the Lord are right,
        rejoicing the heart;
       the commandment of the Lord is pure,
        enlightening the eyes;
       the fear of the Lord is clean,
        enduring forever;
       the rules of the Lord are true,
        and righteous altogether.
       More to be desired are they than gold,
       even much fine gold;
       sweeter also than honey
       and drippings of the honeycomb.
      Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
       in keeping them there is great reward.
   
     This clear passage shows us that God's Law is perfect, His testimony is sure, His precepts are right and His commandment is pure.  We can trust them as the bottom line for our life and conduct in this world.  Filling our minds with the Scripture on a daily basis renews our minds and revives our souls.  Our hearts rejoice at truth and our understanding of life in this fallen world is enlightened.  Isn't this what we want and need?  How else can we make sense of our purpose, worth and significance unless we look at who we are in light of what God has said about us?    He is our Creator and knows us more intimately than we know ourselves.  The Psalmist concludes by saying that we are warned by God's Word and when we keep His commands, we will be rewarded.  Without a solid, unchanging foundation, anything goes, and it seems that this is precisely where our world system is today.
     Satan, the Father of lies, is ruler of this fallen world where truth is relative and there are no absolutes.  Yet, Jesus came to bear witness to the truth and forever defeat sin and death by His atoning sacrifice.  When we spend more time in His Word and less time on the nightly news, we will find that God will revive us as we seek His truth.  Don't look for truth in any other place!  Selah!