What is Truth

Happy Sunday. Do you know anyone that is inconsistent? Dr. Jackal at one moment, Mr.

Hyde the next. As I thought of that illustration, I realized there may be a generation after mine that don't know that reference. Let me put it this way. Have you known someone that talks about God and they live like hell?

That's plain. It can be confusing when you find that. Just last week in Austin, Texas, a young man senselessly killed three people at a Target store. When he was captured, he was holding a Bible and he claimed to be Jesus.

Today, we continue our series on truth. Right before the crucifixion, Jesus was arrested and he was taken to Pilate to be tried. I want to read to you from that encounter. John tells it in chapter 18.

Pilate summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I'm not a Jew, am I? your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me.

What have you done? Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews, but but as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate then asked him, "So you are a king?"

And Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." And Pilate asks Jesus, "What is the truth?

What is the truth?" That's a great question, isn't it? Jesus said that everyone who belongs to the truth listens to Jesus. Pilate was confused.

You know, he'd likely heard about the miracles of Jesus. Pilate went so far as to say that there was no case against Jesus, but the big issue, the leading religious leaders of the day wanted Jesus dead, and Pilate was in the middle and he was confused. Sadly, religion has confused and confounded people for centuries. People are attracted to the truth and then they see someone kill people at Target in Austin claiming to be Jesus and they scratch their heads.

Now, I realize that no one in their right mind will believe this shooter was a Christ follower. However, there are examples everywhere of professing Christians causing people to wonder what the truth really is. One early memory as a kid, I had a Sunday school teacher run off with his secretary, leaving a wife and his family behind. He was my Sunday school teacher, and I was confused.

I remember my father telling me that I was to put my faith in God and not in people. He also told me to told me to focus on the folks who are living like Christ. Here's the truth that I always want you to see today. that I want you to see today.

God is always consistent. He will never tell you to do something that is against his word. For example, God will not tell me to kill my neighbor. God will not tell me to leave my wife.

God will not tell me to rob a bank. His word is clear on those subjects. Sadly, I've seen people who claim to be believers go directly against God's word. I had a husband tell me that he was leaving his wife and kids for another woman because God wanted him to be happy.

He was using God to go against God. And I was confused. I showed him what scripture said and I told him that God wanted him to be obedient. But he was not convinced.

He didn't care. God's word must have the final word in our lives. If we find ourselves against scripture, we are in the wrong. One of my favorite verses is found in Proverbs 30:5.

There we are told, "Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him." If you want to know the truth, look at what God says. If you want to live the truth, see how you your life stands up against this teaching and follow it.

Pray with me. Lord, thank you for revealing the truth to us. Help us to be people of character, of love, of faith, of forgiveness, of grace, people that continue to grow in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. Help us to do that today.

In Jesus name we pray. Amen. God bless. Thanks for joining me today.

Have a great week.