Why Should We Seek Truth? - All According to Plan

John 17:17

What is truth really?

Should we seek Biblical understanding as a Christian?

Or should we just believe what the Pastor tells us to believe (cough)?

As Christians, we should be constantly searching the scriptures to learn more about God. Seeking Biblical knowledge for ourselves helps us to further understand God’s overall plan for humanity.

Jesus encouraged his disciples to search for the scriptures because it matters what you believe. He warns us against false teachings because they can be deceptive. As followers of Christ, we are encouraged to study God’s word for ourselves and to ask the Holy Spirit’s guidance to lead us into all truth.

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
John 17:17

The Difference Between Truth and False-truth

There is a very interesting parable that goes like this:

One day, Truth and False-truth went skinny dipping in a pool. While Truth was swimming around and having fun, False-truth sneaked out of the pool and dressed himself in Truth’s clothing. False-truth masqueraded himself as Truth through the nearby village and people believed his charade.

Truth eventually got out of the pool and realized that False-truth had taken his clothes. Truth refused to put on False-truth’s clothing but instead paraded through the town naked. He was then known as the ‘Naked Truth.’

So what’s the point of the story? Truth does not hide. It is open to all willing to see it. While falsehood has to mask itself, truth is open to questioning and will be found by those who search for it.

Jesus proclaims:

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”
Matthew 7:7

The problem arises when we stop seeking. We may become comfortable with what we already know and are afraid of the unknown. We are afraid that God may convict us of something we aren’t ready to change.

Jesus promises us that the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
John 16:13

But we must be willing to accept new perspectives. We must open our minds to the possibility that we may be wrong and then search the scripture for God’s truth. It is important to understand the Bible for yourself to avoid being deceived.

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”
Matthew 24:11

Keep Seeking Biblical Understanding

We know that everyone will be held accountable for the information that they have received. However, we may be also held accountable for our ignorance as well.

“Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”
Ephesians 4:18

We can choose to remain ignorant about the things of God and in doing so, we are choosing to alienate ourselves from God. Therefore it is imperative, that we continue seeking Biblical understanding to continue growing in Christ and reduce the risk of being lukewarm.

Don’t Condemn Others

Do you want to be deceived? No? I didn’t think so. When we don’t know the scriptures for ourselves, we are more likely to become entangled in the enemy’s web of lies. The Christian experience is a journey, the more we seek God the more understanding He reveals to us.

However, we are all on different paths to glory; meaning that your walk with God may be different from mine. God may reveal something to you that He hasn’t revealed to someone else as yet. Therefore as we search for more and more Biblical understanding, we must be careful not to condemn others.

“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
Ephesians 4:15

The word of God is quick and powerful (Hebrews 4:12). We can trust that God will guide us to the places we need to go. Jesus is willing to reveal more knowledge to us if we are willing to accept it.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 14:6

Prayer for Today:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your word. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who is promised to reveal all truth. Guide me oh Lord and give me the strength to accept that I may be wrong. Help me to not be consumed by deception but help me to test everything by your word.

Amen.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article today. If you have a question, query or story you’d like to share with me, please leave a comment or email me using the form below.