Thought for Today
2 Chronicles 8:10 These were the chief officers of King Solomon, two hundred fifty of them, who exercised authority over the people.
Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
Jesus promised us, “John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Where do you go to find the truth? What is your source of authority for truth? As our technology advances and our communication venues expand, we are constantly bombarded with often conflicting versions of truth. To shameless steal from the movie Ghostbusters, ‘who ya’ gonna call?” When we seek to know the truth of any idea or any event, who are we to call upon?
If we were fortunate, as children, we had reliable sources of truth. When in doubt of anything, I could always go to my parents, my grandparents, a teacher, coach or scout leader to find the truth of the matter. Mundane or esoteric, I could trust them to reveal the truth. Or, at least that was what I thought at the time.
When I wanted to know what it meant to be a man, an adult male in our society, I could simply look at my father and maternal grandfather. They were my role models. In my youth, I believed they knew everything there was to know and could do anything that needed doing. I learned all about hard work, being a faithful spouse, living a faith-filled life. And, anything about which they were unsure, there was always my mom, the ultimate authority on life and living. I still hear those life lessons they all taught me, recorded on the mental tapes playing in my mind as I search for truth.
As I aged, there were countless other teachers, coaches, professors and mentors who helped me find the truth. I find it interesting that I still remember certain elementary school teachers, high school teachers and college professors, but nothing from junior high school. A myriad of men and women who taught me and assisted me in finding the truth in my life. Now, as a minister, I also add to that list several people who pastored me and mentored me in my faith journey. I was blessed to study under men and women who were not only knowledgeable in their field, but who were also wonderful teachers.
As an adult, I have also searched for truth in books, newspapers, magazines and on television. When we were first married, we subscribed to both of Houston’s newspapers. As a member of the ASME, I received the magazine Mechanical Engineering. Some of my college classes led me to magazines like Business Week and even to The Wall Street Journal. All of these were sources of various truths. Where do you go to find the truth? What is your source of authority for truth?
Many of us today look to television for our news and to find the truth. Regrettably, it seems that truth revelations on television news are as sharply divided as are our political parties. As an experiment, you might want to watch CNN and Fox on alternating nights or at different times of the same day. Try to determine whether they are reporting the same events or even covering news on the same planet. How can we filter what we read, hear and even see to determine truth from fiction? Where do you go to find the truth? What is your source of authority for truth?
I identify myself as a Reformed Protestant Christian. That identification reveals a lot about where I find my truth. My faith is influenced by John Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian Religion. I believe in the ‘solas’ of the Reformation, sola fide (Lat. ‘by faith alone’), sola gratia (Lat. ‘by grace alone’) and sola Scriptura (Lat. ‘Scripture alone’) I was ordained as a Presbyterian and I believe in the Book of Confessions, the collection of the historical Christian confessions of faith.
I find the truth in the Incarnation, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. My source of authority is the life and ministry of Jesus as revealed in the inspired words of the New Testament. I listen for the guidance of the promised Advocate, the Holy Spirit. And I am also guided by all of those who influenced me, long before anyone ever thought to claim to be an Influencer.
Every night, in my prayers, I thank God for all of my sources of truth, for all those faith-filled people down through history who have been my sources of truth.
Stay safe, find your truth, trust God,
Pastor Ray