Only One Truth
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Only One Truth
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Psalm 78:23-29
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:24-35
I know I may have preached about truth on one occasion or 2 however, the truth is ever so important in a post truth society. Bernard Shaw is quoted saying that “my way of joking is to tell the truth. That’s the funniest joke in the world.” Isn’t it interesting how truth which was once something to be revered as of moral importance is now treated as a big joke. There is a story about a man who was praying along the beach of the California coast. Suddenly the man shouted out, “Lord, grant me one wish.” Then a booming voice was heard and the Lord said that the man had been faithful to him for many years so he will grant him one wish. The man asked that bridge be built between California and Hawaii so that he could drive there when ever he wanted. The Lord said that this man’s wish seemed to be very materialistic. This would be a major undertaking and the supports that would be needed to reach the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, and all of the concrete and steel that would be needed would be astronomical for these thousands of miles. The Lord said that he could do this however it would be hard for him to justify this man’s desire for such worldly things. The Lord said, “take a little more time to think of another wish, one in which you can glorify me with. The man thought about this for a long time and then requested to be able to understand the truth about women and how to make them happy. He wanted to know how they feel inside, about what they are thinking when they give the silent treatment, about why they cry, about what they really mean when asked what is wrong and they say “nothing. How can he make them truly happy. The Lord then replied, “you want 2 lanes or 4 lanes on that bridge?” The truth is that a man can never make a woman truly happy. Only God can.
It seemed very difficult to please the people of Israel once they left the land of Egypt. They would constantly complain about their new situation. For years they would cry out about their enslavement in Egypt but now that they are out in the desert it seems that they now feel that it would have been better to have died in Egypt because at least they would have had good food. Therefore, God heard their complaints and told Moses that he would rain down bread from by morning and meat for them at night. In the morning a dew would form on the ground and would dry up into this thin crusty substance. This was called Manna, the bread from heaven. At evening and swarm of quail would be blown in and therefore give them meat to eat at night.
John 6 tells us the events after Jesus fed the 5000. The people woke up the next day looking for Jesus but could nit find him. They crossed the sea and went to Capernaum and saw that Jesus was there with his disciples. They were amazed because they saw that he had not gone with his disciples in the boat so they were wondering how he had gotten there. Of course, we know that he had walked on the water during the storm. Jesus tells them that the truth is that they were not looking for him because of the signs and wonders that he performed but because they ate and had their fill. Jesus tells them not to work for the food that is temporary and spoils but for the food that endures to eternal life. Meaning to not focus so much on the things of this world that will eventually disappear. But there is more importance to focus on heavenly things that will last for a life time. The same goes for the truth about sin. The pleasure one seeks through sin is only temporary and will come to an end. It is so temporary in satisfaction that it is for this reason that many will continue in sin just to continually seek that satisfaction. However, the pleasures of heaven though we may not see them immediately, will last forever. You may receive it only once and you will be forever satisfied. They ask what they must do “to do the works God requires?” The answer is to believe in the one whom he has sent.
The people back then were all about signs and wonders to believe in the truth. Unless they saw something miraculous then they would not believe. This is why they ask Jesus what sign would he give them so that they would believe. They said that their ancestors ate manna in the desert and quoted scripture saying, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” This is all very true however it seems that their understanding of the truth is the problem. The people seem to believe that it was Moses who had the power and provided them with the food. However, Jesus sets them straight. For it was not Moses that gave them the bread but it was the Lord that provided for them. He is the one who gives true bread from heaven. This bread comes down and gives life to the world. We then learn that now Jesus is talking about himself as the bread of life. He is the bread that is eternal. He is the one we should seek and will last forever, while all other things of the world will only satisfy for so long and then perish. They people did not understand the truth about their scriptures for they had not understood that it was the Lord that they should revere. However, for centuries they had revered Moses, Jesus was there to reveal the truth and set them straight that Moses was just a man that could do nothing without the Lord.
Paul calls us to unity in the truth in his letter to the Ephesians that we have read this morning. He establishes that there is only one truth, not a multitude of different truths that are designed to satisfy our own desires. Even in the church there are problems with this. Paul reminds us though to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” He also reminds us that there is only one body and one Spirit, we were called to only one hope, there is only “one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” There is only one truth and it is not decided by the people but it is decided by the Lord. Truth is defined by the Lord and by Him alone. We should not be like infants tossed back and worth by the waives. Children will believe whatever people teach them. Their parents may teach them one thing but someone else may teach them another and they will believe in whatever they are taught until they come into maturity to understand the truth for themselves. We are called though not to be like children tossed about by different concepts and beliefs or crafty doctrines that will lead us astray from the truth. However, we are called to become a mature body with Jesus as the head of the body. The body must accept whatever the head decides for the body will go wherever the head leads.
There is only one truth. In our post truth society, we are taught that everyone can have their own truth that works best for them. However, scripture is clear that in the end all will know the truth and all will know who the Lord is and will see him when he comes in his glory. Only the real truth will prevail in the end. Just because one feels that there should be no hell does not mean that it does not exist. Just because one man feels that it is ok to sleep around with multiple women because it makes him feel good does not mean that this is truly ok. Just because some people want to believe there is no God because they feel that this is better does not mean that there is absolutely know God. We know that there is a God because his creation speaks to his existence. We know that there is a God because of his written word. We know that there is a God because we were created with an innate desire to seek him out. There is only one truth and that truth will be revealed in the coming of the glory of the Lord.