THE TRUTH THAT SETS US FREE
Introduction
“And so Jesus went on to say to the Jews that had believed him: “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
– John 8:31-32
Mankind everywhere is searching for truth. No matter their nationality, race, age or gender, practically everyone is on this quest and many will go to extremes to find it. Some journey to far away places; some search out in the cosmos; some seek for truth in strange and obscure religious practices; some seek truth through experimentation with drugs and sex.
This deep seated need for truth is one of the reasons why persons can so easily be led astray. The lure of truth can lead people down a path they would not otherwise tread and cause them to do things they would not otherwise do. We think of those who placed their hopes in men such as Jim Jones, David Koresh or Marshall Applewhite. Though many see these followers as gullible, in all fairness, we have to acknowledge that these individuals were not looking to join a cult, or to serve man, or to be led to an early death. They were looking for truth.
Thus, the search for truth can be disappointing, even devastating. Such failed attempts at finding truth have turned some people away from God and away from the search for truth. They adopt a fatalistic view of life, believing it is nothing more than a fantastic accident without direction or meaning. We find that many, if not most, atheists and agnostics were once associated with some religion that failed to lead them to truth.
The Bible has a lot to say about truth. We are told to have ‘faith in the truth’ (2 Thessalonians 2:13), to ‘bear witness to the truth’ (3 John 3), to ‘go on walking in the truth’ (3 John 4), and to ‘speak the truth’ (Ephesians 4:25). It tells of those who ‘exchanged the truth for the lie’ (Romans 1:25), those who ‘do not have the truth in them’ (1 John 1:8), and those who do not ‘accept the love of the truth’ (2 Thessalonians 2:10). And, the more familiar scripture cited above, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
But since truth is so important, why is it so elusive? Really, what is truth and how can we find it? How can we avoid being misled in our search for it? When we find it, what do we do with it? How does it set us free? Finding the answers to these questions will do more for mankind that any other endeavor because when we find truth, we have found everything.
This symposium of articles is not an exercise in academia, nor is it designed to tickle the ears. It is an unbiased and unadulterated examination of truth designed to reach the heart and empower the individual. We hope to provide a working knowledge of truth and a tangible methodology that can be used in our daily lives to positively effect our relationship with the Father and with our brothers. There is no greater adventure than to search out and find truth on our own, and then live that truth in full freedom.
And, as always, we welcome your comments and questions.