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God of Truth and Love
L.T. Jeyachandran

Philosophers have a way of discussing truth in abstraction. Such
discussions are helpful and do have their place, but they are often out of
the average person's reach. The impression often given is that knowing
truth is a complicated matter. In other discussions, truth seems equally
unknowable.

The Bible is a book that thankfully does not argue its case for truth
purely at the philosophical level. Yet it offers answers to the very
questions that human beings cannot escape: Who am I? Where did I come
from? Why am I here? Where am I going? The Bible compels our
attention because it addresses issues of real life in the structure of a
story and a historical setting. It begins its exposition by assuming the
existence of God in its opening words. If we, therefore, turn to the
Bible for addressing issues of truth, we will find ourselves facing the
God of Scripture!

In such a quest, it is appropriate to examine the words the Bible uses to
describe the idea of truth. Notably, the Hebrew words for truth, faith,
and faithfulness all spring from the same root. This particular
association of words immediately suggests important connections that we
cannot afford to ignore. Truth is not just the characteristic of a
statement or proclamation; it is the character of the very being of God.
"Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the
skies" proclaims the psalmist in 36:5. God is true because He is
faithful to his Word and the character He has revealed. And rightly, we
relate to Him by being faithful to his call to draw near.

This language study quickly demonstrates the tremendous moral and
practical implications for words that are to be understood beyond
conceptual and cerebral terms. The Hebrew shows no dichotomy between
belief and behavior; the believability of God's objective truth revealed
by Him and through his Word is matched by his moral behavior, which is
equally trustworthy. At the same time, we can see that the New Testament
writers are straining to express something of truth that is not simply
conceptual, but reflects the total character of God and those who believe
in Him. Hence, Paul's use of the Greek word "pistis" goes well beyond
simple belief, but also describes a response on the basis of
belief.

Scripture brings to light a quality of truth that is all too often lost in
abstract discussions or in popular gnostic descriptions. Truth at the
conceptual and content level must not be separated from truth at the
practical level; the objective and verifiable must always be set alongside
the existential and experiential. In other words, the answers we seek to
questions of truth must satisfy our hearts even as they stimulate our
minds.

The truth of God's being and character is far more than a set of creedal
principles. This truth can transform our lives in terms of a loving and
free relationship. From this God and his Word, we can receive true
answers to the questions that are inherently raised within us. Who am
I? Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going? The
answers God provides us are simple enough for a little child to understand
and yet so profound that the deepest quest of the most sophisticated
philosopher can be satisfied.


L.T. Jeyachandran is executive director of Ravi Zacharias International
Ministries in Singapore.



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