What is truth? What is the source of truth?
Does absolute truth exist? Yes, many things are true, but what determines what’s real? Reality determines truth – if it’s actual and real, it is true. Is the Bible true? I stand with God and the Bible as the source of truth on the earth. Believing the Bible is true is not popular. Not only is believing the Bible unpopular, but it is also unpopular to share any truth that violates another person’s beliefs.
Pastor Mark Clark said, “To some people, right now, every idea, news story, or piece of information they receive is only meant to fit into the narrative they have decided true already, and that’s that. There is no convincing them otherwise. It’s a scary place to be, to be honest. Jesus warned against people who aren’t so much deceived by others, though, of course, that is a part of this kind of person’s situation as well most times, but those who are self-deceived. And therein lies the problem: we don’t know what we don’t know.”
Our feelings are also the new litmus test for what is true – even over facts. Do experiences define truth? No, an experience can feel like the truth and be false. You can scream fire when there is no fire. But someone will believe that a fire is happening.
There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way that leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12, NET Bible)
The Bible and us
Few Christians believe that the Bible is curated as accurate. Many Christ followers believe some of the Bible. So what part of the Bible is actual? Someone said only we think about the part we obey. Christians are more concerned with being palatable to societal causes than agreeing with the scripture. Much of what we hear from Christians lacks biblical literacy and is short on the truth. Christians indeed believe more of what sounds close to scripture than the actual scripture itself.
So, let’s look at two examples that sound true for Christians.
Put yourself first
Is it true that Christians should put themselves first? While it is true that self-care is necessary for loving others. But, as Christians, we are not to be so self-consumed that we lose sight of putting others first.
Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3, NLT)
Let no one seek his good but the good of his neighbor. (I Corinthians 10:24, ESV)
Many success gurus teach that you are the most important person in the world. Isn’t that where narcissism begins? Here is an excerpt from a popular success teacher. “Realize this! Your needs matter, and please do NOT ignore them. Put yourself first, always. There’s nothing selfish about self-care and self-love and making you #1.”
There is a fine line between loving yourself and being a narcissist. The problem with putting you first is the habit it creates. Let’s use taking a bath as an example. Yes, taking a bath is necessary. When you take the first bath, you can help others bathe. But it is not emotionally healthy to think you deserve the first bath, and “by God,” you are taking the first one.
There is also a fine line between self-love and entitlement. We can never feel entitled and put others first.
Let each of you look not only to his interests but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:4, ESV)
Find yourself
During the sixties and seventies, it was not uncommon to hear someone say, “I am trying to find myself.” Humanity is still much the same. Theologians, pastors, philosophers, and even some psychiatrists agree that humans need an awakening to become better people. Most of us suffer pain, trauma, or loss to unlock our brighter side and find ourselves.
Take Candice Lighter as an example.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, was founded in 1980 by a mother in California. Candice Lightner started the nonprofit following the death of her daughter, who an impaired motorist killed.
The accident awakened Candice’s heart, and she was determined to use the tragedy as a catalyst to help others. Candice turned her loss into gain and her pain into power, and she found herself through a cause.
Here is a list to help you find yourself at Healthline.
- Visualize your ideal self
- Explore your passions
- Try new things
- Evaluate your skills
- Identify what you value about yourself
- Ask yourself questions
- Learn something new
- Keep a journal.
We can never find ourselves through self-effort; if that were possible, no one would be searching.
God has a different model for finding yourself.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. Whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:24–26, NKJV)
Jesus says, “whoever loses his life for my sake” (Lk. 9:24); yet, Jesus’ radical call does stretch us to think beyond our instinct to pursue comfort, fame, and gain selfishly. Jesus said, “deny self.” I know it’s radical. Some people find Christ through pain and loss as well, and the Bible calls it being “born again.”
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (II Corinthians 5:17, NKJV)
That is my experience. I searched for enlightenment through leaving home, using drugs, seducing women, and living for myself. I made life about me, but it ended in emptiness. Believers often find themselves when they find God. And why not? When we connect with our creator, we find our purpose…the reason we are alive.
My life was empty until Christ filled my heart, and I started living for Him and serving others.
That is how you find yourself.
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