Today in God's Word—January 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
January 30, Titus 1
God never lies. In a world of empty promises, political spin and broken vows, it’s hard to imagine genuine, unadulterated, unconditional truth. Many people think nothing of lying if it will somehow profit them to do so. Despite our best intentions, we are sometimes unable to do what we said we would do. I once read that the average person lies 50 times a day! Skepticism is a survival technique for consumers and citizens who’ve heard a lot of lies.
But God never lies. He is truth. His word is truth. The tension we feel when we hear his word comes from its convicting exposure of our flawed lives, not from doubting its veracity. God’s consistent nature and perfect character make his word a reliable foundation for faith, knowledge, conduct and hope.
Paul said he was an apostle for the sake of the faith of God’s elect. Faith is only as good as the information on which it’s based. The testimony about Jesus is trustworthy. Knowing God cannot lie lifts our faith based on his word above the realm of dreamy optimism and gives us expectant confidence.
Postmodern philosophy has taught us that truth is not absolute, that what is true for you may not be true for me. But Paul stood on Jesus’ word: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” He was an apostle of Jesus Christ not only for the sake of the elect’s faith, but also their knowledge of the truth. The human family’s quest to know has led to great discoveries that have expanded our world and enriched our lives. It would seem oddly inappropriate for the
most valuable information of all to be unknowable. The fact God cannot lie defines truth; his desire and will to reveal it to us makes it attainable.
Knowledge of the truth is not an end in itself; that truth is supposed to be reflected in a life of godliness. Our conduct is supposed to agree with what we believe and know. If we can know it, we’re responsible for living it. Could this be why some people say truth is unknowable? Can we escape accountability by denying that truth can be known? Such thinking is self-serving, self-deceiving and an insult to the character of God who cannot lie.
Hope’s surest foundation is the word of God who never lies. Our anticipation of what he has promised is heightened by this assurance of his absolute truthfulness. He promised eternal life before the beginning, and at the appropriate time revealed that life in Christ. The promise and declaration of it is all true; the one who said it cannot lie.
We are not omniscient. We trust someone or something beyond ourselves about things we do not know. As disciples of Jesus, it’s encouraging to know that faith, knowledge and hope are based on the word of God who never lies.
From The Abiding Companion: A Friendly Guide for Your Journey Through the New Testament, Copyright © 2010 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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