Why is truth important? Well, to understand that, we must first answer the question, What is truth? The definition of truth according to Merriam-Webster is “the body of real things, events, and facts : the state of being the case”. According to Easton’s Bible Dictionary “it denotes that which is opposed to falsehood”. So in other words, something being true is the opposite of it being false; and if something is false, it is also called a lie.
Actions have consequences
We all know lying is bad, but it can also negatively affect any relationship. For example, if you lie to your boss, you might delay a raise or even eventually get fired. If you lie to your family or friends, they will start to lose trust in you, and it can take a long time to build that trust back. Even with yourself, whenever you make a mistake of any kind, it’s imperative to be honest with yourself about it; until you are, it will be impossible to learn or grow from it.
The Bible on Truth
Truth is of God. The Bible refers to God as a “God of truth” (Deut 32:4, Psalm 31:5, Isaiah 65:16). It also talks about God’s truth: Psalm 108:4 “For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.” John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”. God delights in truth: Prov 12:22 “Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight”. Jesus is also referred to as the true vine (John 15:1), the true light (John 1:9), and the true bread (John 6:32-33).
The Bible on Falsehood
Lying is of the Devil. John 8:44 says that the devil has no truth in him, and that he is the father of lies. Jeremiah 9:3-6 shows that lying habitually is something we teach ourselves, and that through lying, we refuse to know God. According to Prov 19:9 “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish”: Rev 21:8 says that among a list of other sins, “all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
The Answer
So we know that God delights in truth, despises lies; and that liars will not go unpunished. So how do we get out of the bad habit of lying? Well, Jesus has an answer to that, he tells us in John 8:34-36, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the son abideth ever. If the son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” Just before that, in verses 31-32 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” We were all enslaved to sin at some point; the only way out of it is to accept Jesus’ gift, continue in his word, and become his disciples. And we will know the truth, and the truth will set us free.
Written by NBB Alumnus: Philip Minica
