We were searching for Whaleback Shell Midden in Maine, a dump from earlier times consisting of thrown-away shells, bones, broken ceramic pots, and stone tools. It was mentioned in our tour book, but none of the locals had ever heard of it.
But wait! How could our tour book be wrong?” We had followed its directions faithfully!
But the people in the surrounding area knew nothing about it.
Strange!
But then, isn’t that more often than not the case when we follow human advice? Everybody has different ideas and it’s terribly confusing!
After our thorough search for this unknown local place mentioned in our tour book, we decided to visit nearby Pemaquid Point and its lighthouse. At least this place was mentioned on our map!
But we did something different this time. Before we set out, we prayed this simple prayer: “Lord, guide us to all of your beauty in this area. Thank you Lord for being our Guide.”
And sure enough, once we arrived at Pemaquid Point, we marvelled at His creation. The scene was even more surreal than imagined, and the natural stony outcropping over the ocean was a photographer’s paradise, especially since the sky with shimmering on the horizon as the sun began its downward path.
When we left Pemaquid Point, we were compelled to take a side road, which brought us to Fort Williams. This interesting fort was built in 1692, destroyed in 1696, rebuilt and renamed Fort Frederick in 1729, and abandoned in 1759. Now here was another interesting area, and this time it wasn’t even mentioned on our map or in our tour book!
Nearby we discovered a beautiful harbour with many ships, once again reminding us of the beauty of the world God created.
We learned our lesson that day. We cannot always trust in the report of man, but we can ALWAYS rely on God! He is always willing to guide us. In fact, God has offered us a couple of helpers who will ALWAYS guide us in His truth, just like He guided us that day to “all His beauty in these surroundings”.
The first one, although often ignored by many, is our source to Truth: God’s Word, the Bible.
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17 NIV)
God’s Word wasn’t just put together by chance. It was “God-breathed by God’s Holy Spirit!
“The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your forefathers when he said through Isaiah the prophet…” (Acts 28:25 NIV)
“All Scripture is God-breathed…” (2 Tim 3:16 NIV)
Naturally, His Word, in and of itself, may be hard for some to comprehend, especially for us sinners. However its treasures can be comprehended not by our own understanding, but by relying on its Author: God’s Spirit Himself, who, by the way, is our second helper to find Truth!
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13 NIV)
“When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” (John 15:26 NIV)
“It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.” (1 John 5:6 NIV)
We can be assured that God’s Spirit will never lie to us. His testimony is truthful!
“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:11-12 NIV)
If we invite Him into our life, He will “live in us” and “be with us forever.” No more worries about not knowing what Truth is!
“The truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever.” (2 John 2 NIV)
God yearns for us to long for Truth.
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23 NIV)
And that truth will not only set us free, but will also provide us with real living! Gone are the days of living a meaningless lie of addiction and confusion.
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NIV)
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV)
“It’s in my tour book. It must exist somewhere!”
“Sorry sir. I have never heard of it. Maybe you are in the wrong place.”
Rob Chaffart
(To access the entire “What is Truth?” devotional series, please click here.)