Truth: A Precious Commodity

Standing before Pilate, Jesus made reference to the truth. John 18:37 Pilate then asked, “What is truth?” (verse 38).
This is one of the most important questions of our time. What is truth?
Jesus foresaw what the world would become before His second coming and consistently warned us. “…Take heed that no man deceive you.” Matthew 24:4,5,11,24-27.

(Matt 24:12 [KJV])
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Christ saw that “ the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.(Genesis 6:5) These warnings are repeated in Matthew and Luke.
(Luke 17:27-30 [KJV])
They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.
Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

In this age of social media, where misinformation, conspiracy theories and outright lies prevail, we are told that deception will nigh become universal. Satan’s purpose will be established.
“And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him”. (Revelation 12:9 [KJV])
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. (Revelation 13:14 [KJV])

The prophet Isaiah speaks to this generation.
“In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.
And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
Yea, truth faileth; and he [that] departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw [it], and it displeased him that [there was] no judgment”. (Isaiah 59:13-15 [KJV]) and (Isaiah 59:3-4 [KJV]) For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.
None calleth for justice, nor [any] pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

The people of God who should be truth seekers and upholders of truth have joined the rank of the enemy. What is even sadder is that many are not aware that by their words and actions, they are denying the author of Truth. The Churches, whose voices should be the guardians of morality, truth, and justice have lost their voices and have joined the political fray by taking sides on the left or right. Having done so they can no longer call out evil for they have joined the evil.
“And Israel (the people of God) joined himself unto Baalpeor (the world): and the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel” (Numbers 25:3 [KJV])

“Notwithstanding the Bible is full of warnings against false teachers, many are ready thus to commit the keeping of their souls to the clergy. There are today thousands of professors of religion who can give no other reason for points of faith which they hold than that they were so instructed by their religious leaders. They pass by the Saviour’s teachings almost unnoticed, and place implicit confidence in the words of the ministers. But are ministers infallible? How can we trust our souls to their guidance unless we know from God’s Word that they are lightbearers? A lack of moral courage to step aside from the beaten track of the world, leads many to follow in the steps of learned men; and by their reluctance to investigate for themselves, they are becoming hopelessly fastened in the chains of error.
The truth and the glory of God are inseparable; it is impossible for us, with the Bible within our reach, to honor God by erroneous opinions. Many claim that it matters not what one believes, if his life is only right. But the life is molded by the faith. If light and truth are within our reach, and we neglect to improve the privilege of hearing and seeing it, we virtually reject it; we are choosing darkness rather than light.” {Great Controversy (GC) 1888 597.2}

“There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” [Proverbs 16:25.] Ignorance is no excuse for error or sin, when there is every opportunity to know the will of God. A man is travelling, and comes to a place where there are several roads, and a guide-board indicating where each one leads. If he disregards the guide-board, and takes whichever road seems to him to be right, he may be ever so sincere, but will in all probability find himself on the wrong road.”
{GC 1888 597.3}
“It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the Scriptures, what is truth, and then to walk in the light, and encourage others to follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought, and comparing scripture with scripture. With divine help, we are to form our opinions for ourselves, as we are to answer for ourselves before God.” {GC 88 598.2}

“…To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few – this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason.”
Testimonies Volume 5, page 136.2

The voice of the Lord through Isaiah speaks clearly to us, “Cry aloud and spare not lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1