In my last post we explored the importance of a strong foundation on which to build our life upon. The component of "truth" in laying our foundation is critical to the stability of our lives. With so much changing in our world day by day, minute by minute, second by second wouldn't it be nice to have an anchor? A solid place, a safe haven, on which to stand as the storms of life come our way. Someone we can count on when our nation, community, neighbors,friends, spouse, and family let us down.
When I began to research the meaning of the word truth I was amazed! There are over a dozen theories of what truth means or is. There are differing claims on such questions as what constitutes truth; what things are truth bearers capable of being true or false; how to define and identify truth; the roles that revealed and acquired knowledge play; and whether truth is subjective, relative, objective, or absolute. Wow, no wonder so many people are confused about truth!
The question of truth became controversial after Darwin's theory of evolution and it's influence on philosophy in the late 19th century was significant and haunts us to this day. Within his pragmatic approach
James Peirce theorized that truth is relative; it did not exist in the abstract but happened under particular circumstance. He believe the mind has a "vote" in determining truth. This type of thinking brings about the many problems within our society today. This philosophy encourages materialism, individualism, selfishness, self-illusion, even goes as far as justifying sin. Relativism also breeds insecurity, for there is no certainty, no comforting reliance on any eternal value in the absence of absolute truth. Insecurity causes fear, aggression, alcohol and drug abuse, anxiety, depression, despair, hopelessness, and a variety of other societal problems that many people encounter today.
The definition for absolute is free from imperfection, and most importantly free from control, restriction, or qualification. God's Word therefore qualifies for absolute truth.
The Bible refers to God being the God of truth in Psalm 31:5: "Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O Lord, the God of truth." and in Isiah 65:16: "Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the God of truth; he who takes an oath the land will swear by the God of truth. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes." In the Gospels, Jesus begins over 50 sentences with "I tell you the truth..."! Jesus reveals himself to his disciples as the "Way, the TRUTH, and the life" (John 14:6).
Were you stand on your belief of what truth is will determine how stable your foundation is. Believing God's Word as the only source of absolute truth is essential in building a strong foundation. His Word was here before relativism was even dreamed up, His Word stands as true to day as it was yesterday, His truth will remain forever.
Are you feeling the symptoms of relativism? I invite you to continue on with me and find freedom from relativism in the never changing, eternal, Word of God. Join me next time as we take a look at our "Blueprint".
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
A Strong Foundation
No one should attempt to build a house on a weak foundation right? We all know what the outcome of that would be for the house don't we? In the book of Matthew, Jesus teaches us that putting His Word into practice is like a wise man building his house on the rock. When the rain came down, the streams rose up, the winds blew hard, and the sun beat down against the house, the house did not fall.
Before we begin to construct anything new, we must make sure our foundation is strong. The same is true of our attempt in reaching new levels of physical and spiritual wellness. So, where do we begin? At the foundation.
In my mind we have two options. We can build on what society says about truth (which changes from moment to moment and is different from person to person), OR we can build upon the truth revealed to all mankind in the the Word of God (the infallible, unchanging Word of God!). The word "infallibe" means "incapable of erroring; certain". God's Word reveals His righteousness to us, that means that everything God does is "right".
Psalm 4 begins with "Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God." Psalm 36:6 refers God's righteousness to the mountains - "Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains," and Psalm 71:19 says that His righteousness is limitless - "Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?" The answer is there is no other like God and that's what makes Him worthy of all our praise, honor, and adoration!
The apostle John specifically refers to Jesus as the "Righteous One" who because of His rightesouness (perfection) was our atoning sacrifice for our sins. God accepted Jesus' perfection for our imperfection.
The Word of God is perfect - there is no error or anything "faulty" about God or His Word. Psalm 12:6 says the "Word of the Lord is flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times." The book of Proverbs also refers to God's Word as flawless and a shield in 30:5-6. This particular scripture also gives us a warning as does the book of Revelation regarding changing God's Word. It reads, "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
Along with God's word being flawless, 2 Samuel 22:31 records that God is perfect - "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless." Therefore, God doesn't change his mind and is not swayed by what everyone else is saying or doing, He is "rock solid".
In 2 Samuel 22:31-33, Samuel referes to God not only as a Rock, but also as a shield in whom we can take refuge - "He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect".
So, for starters I think it's important that you decide what foundation you will build your house (life) on. A world of imperfections, people tossed like the sea, ideas that come and go, where nothing is permanent and nothing is stable? Or, will you begin with me on a journey on which you build your life on the foundation of God's righteous, holy, perfect, infallible, rock-solid, and secure Word?
If you are ready to start building on the foundation you can always count on to hold you up in all the storms of life, then meet me here again next time for "Building Plans".
Before we begin to construct anything new, we must make sure our foundation is strong. The same is true of our attempt in reaching new levels of physical and spiritual wellness. So, where do we begin? At the foundation.
In my mind we have two options. We can build on what society says about truth (which changes from moment to moment and is different from person to person), OR we can build upon the truth revealed to all mankind in the the Word of God (the infallible, unchanging Word of God!). The word "infallibe" means "incapable of erroring; certain". God's Word reveals His righteousness to us, that means that everything God does is "right".
Psalm 4 begins with "Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God." Psalm 36:6 refers God's righteousness to the mountains - "Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains," and Psalm 71:19 says that His righteousness is limitless - "Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God you who have done great things. Who, O God, is like you?" The answer is there is no other like God and that's what makes Him worthy of all our praise, honor, and adoration!
The apostle John specifically refers to Jesus as the "Righteous One" who because of His rightesouness (perfection) was our atoning sacrifice for our sins. God accepted Jesus' perfection for our imperfection.
The Word of God is perfect - there is no error or anything "faulty" about God or His Word. Psalm 12:6 says the "Word of the Lord is flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times." The book of Proverbs also refers to God's Word as flawless and a shield in 30:5-6. This particular scripture also gives us a warning as does the book of Revelation regarding changing God's Word. It reads, "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar."
Along with God's word being flawless, 2 Samuel 22:31 records that God is perfect - "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless." Therefore, God doesn't change his mind and is not swayed by what everyone else is saying or doing, He is "rock solid".
In 2 Samuel 22:31-33, Samuel referes to God not only as a Rock, but also as a shield in whom we can take refuge - "He is a shield for all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God? It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect".
So, for starters I think it's important that you decide what foundation you will build your house (life) on. A world of imperfections, people tossed like the sea, ideas that come and go, where nothing is permanent and nothing is stable? Or, will you begin with me on a journey on which you build your life on the foundation of God's righteous, holy, perfect, infallible, rock-solid, and secure Word?
If you are ready to start building on the foundation you can always count on to hold you up in all the storms of life, then meet me here again next time for "Building Plans".
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