A Pursuit of Truth

The pursuit of truth must first become a pursuit of Jesus Christ, The Truth. (John 14:6) Consequently, without an intentional daily intimate relationship with Him, one’s quest for truth ends in a relentless, disappointing search for informative facts and philosophies absent of heartfelt revelation and eventually ending in legalistic forms and bondages. Yes the Bible is Truth, (John 17:17) but not the letter of the information found in it. (Rom. 7:6) Throughout my ministry I’ve painfully observed well-meaning, diligent believers searching the Scriptures for truth at the same time ignoring the importance of prayerful interaction centered around His character and functions. Without fail these saints grow heady and knowledgeable of biblical information, all the while dull to the heartfelt call of intimacy with the Author of Truth unaware that like the Pharisees of old, they have missed the point of who Truth is (John 5:39)! Some recognize the futility of their mental gymnastics and develop a more balanced faith. Others sadly eventually fall into a frustrating self-righteous religiosity that is nothing more than an intellectual approach to God that contradicts the necessity that spirit and soul, heart and mind, emotions and will must join forces in the pursuit of the Living Truth, found in Jesus. We need the combination of His Person and Character (Deut. 32:4), His Word (John 17:17), His Spirit (John 16:13), His Works (Dan. 4:37), His Laws (Ps. 119:142), and most significantly a prayerful daily encounter with His reality (Job 42:5)! Like Job we must come to the realization that our knowledge about Him is empty without an intimate relationship. The absence of any of these fundamentals results in an unstable lifestyle and produces attitudes that erupt from the carnal nature. The Hebrew and Greek words, often translated as the word truth, can also be generally rendered equally as faithfulness. Furthermore, it is not without reason that throughout the Bible the sequence for the management of truth is almost always preceded by mercy. (Gen 24:27; 2 Sam 15:20; Ps 25:10; 57:3,10; 61:7; Ps 69:13; 85:10; 86:15; 89:14; 98:3; 100:5; 108:4; Prov 3:3; 14:22; 16:6; 20:28; Hos 4:1; Mic 7:20) A deficit of mercy produces a truth that becomes a dangerous weapon stabbing and cutting anyone within it’s path. Moreover, the fruit of the Spirit will become obvious in those who enjoy the heavenly recipe for truth in proper measure. Believers who resist that balance frequently demonstrate argumentative behaviors that focus on do’s and don’ts, jots and tittles and philosophical differences of interpretations. They all too often develop a hostile, aggressive posture that enjoys the debate of differences more than the fellowship of the saints. I need a truth that Works practically and relationally. This means no matter how much I think I know, the more I realize there is always an unfathomable-ness to the reality of faith and knowing God for all God is! I would rather possess a deep intimate progressive discourse with my God than fall prey to the prideful assumption that I have all the knowledge of the Word and doctrine and need no further instruction. God help us to pursue the fullness of what His perspective of truth involves.