Sermon Tone Analysis

Truth.

Today I want to talk about something that is very basic; something that each and every one of us knows.

I am not going to tell you anything that you don’t know.

But I am going to say it anyway!

Because it is important; in fact, vital!

You have probably noticed a new trend – well newish; it used to be if someone was preaching, that they would cite Scripture or perhaps quote a Church Father, a famous preacher, or quote a renowned authority.

Or if you were writing a scientific paper you would do a literature search in the library and reference your sources.

But now, we quote Google.

[P] “I Googled it!

I looked it up on U-tube!”

As if this is the great authority!

We bow down, and worship this vast repository of human learning.

Google has become the ultimate authority!

If you want to find out about anything; be it cooking, knitting, fixing cars, making musical instruments, atomic bombs, medical diagnoses – Google has the answers!

Google is “all knowing”!

It is amazing, and seemingly limitless, what you can find out.

It used to be that if you were curious about something that you would just let it ride, or if you were really keen, you might go to the library and find out.

But not now – the answers are at our finger-tips!

The internet gives access to a vast store of knowledge.

[P] You can find information, you can find facts.

You can also find a huge variety of opinion.

[P] It used to be that you had to have your sources verified before you could publish.

But now you can put your view-point on-line, no matter how weird or crackpot.

On Google you will find every opinion under the sun.

But do you know what you will not find?

… TRUTH! [P] I have a real concern that we are deifying Google.

We bow down and worship this vast source of data.

But you know the source of that data, don’t you?

Its source is human!

[P] – it is a collection of man’s ideas and knowledge.

We are worshipping man!! His knowledge, his wisdom.

It is idolatry!

[Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says יהוה, “Cursed is the person who trusts in humankind and makes flesh his strength, and turns aside his heart from יהוה.]

Man is not the source of truth!

Google is not omniscient; God is!! Furthermore; truth is more than mere knowledge.

In fact, man has an extremely difficult job even defining “truth”.

Philosophers have struggled to define the concept.

What is truth?!

One thing about the truth is THAT IT IS!

It remains.

It doesn’t alter; you can deny it, tell lies against it, deceive, ignore it, hide your head in the sand; but it doesn’t change.

It doesn’t alter truth!

It still is!

Just like God Himself!

In: [Exodus 3:13–14 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’

Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’

What shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”] “I AM” – He is! Eternally past, present and future [Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were born Or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.]

He just IS; ever the same.

No matter what you do, or say or think doesn’t alter the fact.

HE IS!

That is the truth!

Rock solid, unalterable, totally dependable and to be relied upon.

It is not going to vary or be something other at some other time.

And that is the most wonderful thing about the truth you can depend upon it, rely upon it, it is a foundation that you can count on because it is TRUE.

It is this essential quality of dependability that causes some differences in translation of the word for “truth”.

For instance: when יהוה met Moses on the mountain and declared His Name to him and he saw His back; this is what יהוה said: [P] [Exodus 34:6 Then יהוה passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “יהוה, יהוה God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth;] That is what my NASB says, it is also what the KJV and NKJV say.

But if I read the ESV: [P] [Exodus 34:6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,] “Faithfulness” is also what the NIV and Good News say.

The word for “truth” also means “faithful” [P] – same word for both and translators have to decide how they will render it.

They will translate it either way, depending on the verse.

[P] Because, to the Hebrew mind there is not a lot of difference.

What is faithful, reliable, dependable is true.

What is true can be depended upon, is faithful.

It is much the same thing.

There is a rather enigmatic verse in Ecclesiastes, sometimes used at weddings: [P] [Ecclesiastes 4:12 And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him.

A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.]

It has been talking about two people being better than one, how the second can help and support the first.

But then it talks about three strands – and so people have used it in the context of marriage: two people are better together than one person alone, but if Jesus is the third one in the relationship; then it is super-strong.

It is probably as good an interpretation as any; but we are not told what the three-stranded cord is all about.

So, if you will permit me to wrest the verse from its context and just use it as a peg; I would like to talk about a super-strong three strand cord of truth that can be relied upon.

Because, remember?

That is the essence of truth it is faithful, it can be relied upon.

I mean if you are abseiling down a cliff you want to know that cord will not break.

You are entrusting your life to it!

That is truth – you are depending your life on it panning out to be true!

You have got to be sure.

And there are three strands to the cord of truth.

You don’t want to rely on just one!

When you are at sea in a boat, you take bearings and then you know the truth of where you actually are – you are no longer “all at sea”.

If you take a bearing on a light-house – you could be anywhere along that line.

But if you take a second bearing, say on a headland, then you have fixed your position along that line.

But if you want to be sure, ensure you haven’t made a mistake, then you take a third bearing and all three points intersect.

Then you know for sure, for certain, without a shadow of a doubt, where you are.

You have found the truth of your position.

So, it is with the truth.

We have three coordinates that confirm each other so that we can be absolutely sure.

One of the reasons that people have had such difficulty trying to define truth and find out what it is; is that they have been looking for a concept, an idea, a statement of fact.

Famously Pilate asked: [John 18:37-38 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king.

(Pilate knew the facts but not the truth) For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth.

Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.

Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”]

When all the time there was the TRUTH standing right in front of him!!

The truth was in hearing His voice.

You see, the truth wasn’t a statement, some facts, a concept; the TRUTH is a Person!

We all know the verse [P] [John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.]

There is the first strand, the first coordinate: [P] Jesus Himself, claimed to be the truth.

This is why so many don’t find the truth – they are not looking for the person, they are looking for some abstract metaphysical concept.

Paul said: [2 Timothy 1:12 I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed (not believing a principle but a Person) and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.]

The truth is real, concrete, incapsulated in a person; One who is utterly and completely faithful.

You can count on Jesus, rely upon Him.

People believe in many things.