What is Truth?

Can Truth Really Be Known?

In a world filled with opinions and perspectives, many wonder if anything can truly be known. Philosophy reminds us that human understanding has limits. Our senses can mislead us. Our reasoning can fail. Even our best conclusions are incomplete.

So the real question becomes:
 If human knowledge is limited, where does true wisdom come from?

The Bible agrees with this concern—but it does not leave us in uncertainty. Instead, it points us to a truth that is not merely discovered by the mind, but revealed through relationship with God.

Proverbs 3:5–6 — The Foundation of Knowable Truth

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,  and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways acknowledge Him,  and He shall direct your paths.”

These verses do not reject knowledge—they redefine its source.

They teach us:

• Human understanding has value, but not authority.
• God’s wisdom is not merely superior—it is essential.
• Truth is not only something we think about—it is something that guides our steps.

This is not abstract theology. This is usable truth—truth that works in real life.

Solomon: When Wisdom Becomes Detached from Relationship

Solomon is one of the greatest examples in Scripture of what happens when wisdom is misunderstood.

God gave Solomon wisdom beyond any man who lived before or after him. But Scripture suggests something deeper than intellectual brilliance: God intended wisdom to flow from relationship, not independence.

At the beginning of Solomon’s reign, his heart was humble. He walked closely with God. His wisdom was not merely sharp—it was submitted.

But later, as we read Ecclesiastes, we hear a different voice:

“I said in my heart, ‘Come now, I will test you with pleasure…’”

 “I applied my heart to know wisdom…”

 “All is vanity…”

Solomon did not lose intelligence.  He lost dependence.

Ecclesiastes is the testimony of a man who possessed extraordinary wisdom—but tried to use it apart from ongoing trust in God. The result was frustration, emptiness, and disillusionment.

This shows us something critical:

Wisdom separated from relationship with God eventually becomes powerless to give meaning.

Truth That Is Revealed, Not Manufactured

Jesus later confirmed what Solomon learned through experience:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.” — John 14:6

Truth is not just a principle.  Truth is a Person.

And knowing truth is not merely understanding ideas—it is walking with God.

2 Chronicles 16:9 — The Heart God Responds To

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,

 to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is completely His.”

This verse reveals something extraordinary about how God works:

• God is not searching for the smartest minds.
•  God is not searching for the most gifted leaders.
•  God is searching for hearts fully His.

Truth flows most powerfully not to the independent thinker, but to the dependent believer.

This is the same principle Solomon began with—and later drifted from.

What This Teaches Us About Truth

Truth is not:

• esoteric knowledge for a few,
• intellectual mastery for the elite,
• or philosophical certainty for the confident.

Truth is:

• revealed to the humble,
• given to the dependent,
• walked in by the willing.
  

This is why Proverbs 3:5–6 stands at the center of biblical wisdom: Do not lean on your own understanding—lean on the Lord.

Why the Bible Is Reliable for Those Seeking Real Truth

For anyone seeking truth that actually works, the Bible stands on three solid foundations:

1. Historically reliable — preserved with unmatched care.
2. Spiritually coherent — telling one unified story of God restoring relationship with humanity.
3. Existentially proven — changing lives wherever its truth is trusted.

But more than all this, the Bible is reliable because it consistently leads people into relationship with the living God, not merely into better ideas.

Understanding biblical truth is not primarily about intelligence.  It is about willingness.

• Willingness to trust.
•  Willingness to listen.
•  Willingness to surrender independence.

God gave Solomon wisdom.  But what sustained him at first was his dependence on God.

Scripture shows us clearly:  When wisdom remains connected to relationship with God, it becomes life-giving.  When it becomes detached, it becomes empty.

Closing Thought

Truth is knowable.  Not because our minds are sufficient,  but because God is faithful.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart… and He shall direct your paths.”

That is not a call to ignorance.  It is a call to relational wisdom—  the kind of truth that does not merely inform us,  but forms us into the people God created us to be.

Truth Separated from God Becomes Deception

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life (Light). No one comes to the Father, except through me.

John 1:4  In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.

Ephesians 2:18  For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Truth is like a "lit" candle. It burns in the darkness and Lights our way. Without oxygen, the flame goes out. But you still have a candle in your hand. You may think you are walking down the path because you possess a candle. But without oxygen, you are bound to stumble, fall and, eventually die.

Like oxygen to a lit candle, the Holy Spirit is to Biblical truth. Biblical principles separated from the Holy Spirit become deception.

THE LORD, A COVENANT GOD

Deuteronomy 7:9 
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, 

Hebrews 11:6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who diligently search for him.

Hebrews 3:1. Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see. 2. This is why the ancients were commended. 3. By faith we understand that the universe was formed by God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By Faith we understand...

Matthew 9:20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22. Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

Matthew 8:5. When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” 7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” 8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. "But just say the word, and my servant will be healed." 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith... 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

By the Holy Spirit we hear the promise. In hope we believe it's truth. In obedience we trust His Guidance. And in joy we proclaim His faithfulness.

BIBLICAL FAITH in its basic form...

God Initiates - We Respond

It used to be.

There was a time in the past when someone could be alone. In fact it was normal to be alone much of the time. Left alone with our thoughts. Then the strategy of the enemy was lies. He could explain our situation in our thoughts as we perceived them as our own and made decisions that led to our destruction.

Now we are connected, never alone. We have access to lies, but also the truth, if we just but seek. The truth sets us free. How does the enemy now stop us from discovering it?

Distract and occupy our time. There is much more to be said about that.