Relativism is an interesting concept. If you are poor and others around you are poor, you may not be aware of how poor you are because of your relative wealth. In other words, compared to your neighbor, you may be doing okay financially. But compared to a pop star, you might be incredibly poor. As a human race, we share this idea of relativism no matter where we live. But if you live in America, you live in a country where concepts like “good”, “wise” or even “truth” are also relative terms. Do you think you are a “good” person? Well, that might depend on what you consider “good”. Are you “wise”? Well, are we talking about street wisdom or book wisdom, and wise compared to who? What about “truth”? We live in a time when even facts aren’t necessarily considered “true”. But when it comes to faith in Christ, believers know that truth is not relative. It never has been and it never will be. In John, chapter 18, verses 37 and 38 we read this exchange between Pontius Pilate and Jesus. It says:
“‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against him.’”
When it comes to our eternal salvation, there is only one truth. It doesn’t matter if our culture changes, our laws change, or even our thinking changes. Truth - as it applies to Jesus - will never change. After all, it is Jesus who said, “I am the way and the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” When he identified himself as “the truth”, I believe he was explaining that there is only one truth, and it isn’t relative. With him, you idea of truth and my idea of truth can’t be different. How do we know what truth is? Through his word; the Holy Bible. John identifies Jesus as “the Word”. And Jesus said, “everyone on the side of truth listens to me”. Are you on the side of truth? Or does your idea of what is true change? Let us not be like Pilate. Let us not ask “what is truth?” as if the answer should be different for everyone. Because with Jesus, truth is not relative.
—-
The devil would like us to think that truth is relative. You can have your truth, I can have my truth, and both will lead to heaven. But the Bible teaches us that there is only one truth, and that is Jesus. He is the only way to heaven. No words that have ever been spoken are more true that his words. Our moral code, our idea of what is right or wrong, what is good or evil, and what is truth or a lie should all be filtered through him. He will help us align our skewed view of life, love, our future and everything that we know to the truth. And if we know the truth, Jesus assures us that the truth will set us free.