Think About This: “As is typical of this God [of Israel], he calls his people into freedom in the most unlikely place.”- Mark Galli
The Daily Bible Reading: Acts 10-11. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
Posted on November 20, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call
“What is truth?”-Pontius Pilate
I Cor. 1:18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.”
Human wisdom, worldly wisdom, can be a curse as well as a blessing. But God does not put a premium on ignorance. He just makes it simple enough to believe that it is inclusive of all levels of intelligence.
Would you concur with this observation based on your experience: the more intelligent a person is, the more faith is required to believe? This is not to suggest that there are not an untold number of very intelligent people who are true believers, but it is to say that the more one looks into scripture, the more he can find to challenge. God does not explain all of his ways and they are not our ways (Isa. 55:8). Thus, to delve into the minutiae of scripture gives opportunity for more and more questions. And the more intellectually capable you are, the more you want concrete answers. But if we understood everything, we would be God! So the super-intelligent need more faith than the intellectually challenged.
Do you not find it interesting that nations and peoples who base their societal structure and core values (laws) on the Judeo-Christian ethic are the most advanced nations in the world while those who have never heard the gospel or at one time had it but rejected it are the least advanced or have the least regard for human life? Is it not interesting, at least in my estimation, that the USA is not the great God-fearing nation it once was and that it is declining in morality, growing in lawlessness, dividing in unity.
Searching for truth presupposes that there is something to look for! Jesus said, “I am the truth” (John 14:6). Notice, the truth to the exclusion to others who may claim to have ultimate truth. Either He is the truth or He is the greatest liar ever to have lived.
There are also moral truths, some of which are self-evident. Rejecting moral truths fatally weakens any meaning discourse. Without an agreement on fundamentals there is only division, no possibility of commonality.
Statement of facts are one category of truth. But witnesses are told to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” Stating one fact and leaving another unsaid can distort as much as it reveals. Stating a fact while misrepresenting others is a strategy of concealment and there are two ways of misconstruing facts-inadvertent and deliberate. The former is a mistake the latter a deceit.
Not only is Jesus “the truth”, but His word is “the truth’: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17) If you reject Jesus and His word, you are neglecting “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.” In it there are no misrepresentations.
Thus, to those of us who believe (have great faith) that Jesus is Who He said He is, and that the Bible, God’s Word is what He says it is, it is the power of God. To those who find it less than that is to reject the truth.
Written by Diane Hunt: Diane Hunt serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.
Think About This: “As is typical of this God [of Israel], he calls his people into freedom in the most unlikely place.”- Mark Galli
The Daily Bible Reading: Acts 10-11. You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29