Where Is Truth???

Have you ever read something or watched a video and wondered if it was really true?

People can write things and make them sound believable. They can write things that contain partial truth. At one time a published book was generally regarded as credible. After all, many people and great expense would go into the process. If it were not true, someone involved would surely notice. Yet, today anyone can publish at little or no expense via electronic blogs or on-demand publishing; and they can say anything they wish.

How many reports/stories have circulated on social media as true, yet were later found to be fabrications or half-truths? Sometimes people innocently say things they believe, not knowing that they are wrong. Sometimes people foolishly ‘share’ stories that they want to believe, yet without ever checking to see if they are factual. Sometimes, people are naïve and believe stories that were meant for entertainment. (Haha! Gotcha!)

For only $50 more our family photographer was able to take the face of one of our daughters from one photo and replace her crying face in a more preferable setting. Photographs have been ’doctored’ for years, but now just about anyone can afford software to manipulate the truth.

Governments go to great lengths to stay one step ahead of counterfeiters. Yet, the sophisticated equipment and software available today make it possible for the makers of funny money to win from time to time.

Trying to discover truth may seem elusive and exhausting, but the issue has been around for a long time. Idolatry was an early face of falsehood. And then there were false prophets.

It is almost amusing to read about the Old Testament prophet Macaiah. He was a prophet of God. However, the king of Israel did not like him because his words were never favorable. Under pressure from the king of Judah Macaiah was called upon to reveal God’s word. Before appearing before the kings, he was informed that the other prophets had assured the king of Israel victory in battle. (Hint, hint!)

Macaiah came before the two kings and gave his blessing: Success in battle...Go! Fight! Win!

Then the king of Israel scolded:

How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?

The prophet then spoke...and disagreed with the other prophets...yet his words were actually true. (Read this in 1 Kings 22:13-23.)

Somehow the king knew that Micaiah was not being truthful at first, so he insisted on the truth. The king of Israel KNEW that Micaiah would speak the truth.

One can only imagine why Micaiah was agreeable to the king at first. Whatever the case, it is illuminating that the king of Israel accepted two certainties:

• Truth existed; and 
• Truth could be known. 

The king might have been frustrated with truth; he might have chosen to ignore truth; but he knew that there was such a thing as truth and he knew that truth was knowable.

We live at a time when truth is obscured, hidden, questioned, and doubted. Yet, truth really exists and truth is still knowable.

The sum of Your word is truth.
—Psalm 119:160

Truth is revealed in God's Word! Get truth!

Mark Stinnett