People today are living in the fast lane and are not taking the time to personally search for truth. A vast majority are depending on someone else to do their searching for them. God wants all men to come unto a knowledge of the truth according to 1 Timothy 2:4, "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth". The Bible would be worthless if it is not possible for one to know the truth.

Jesus taught that it is possible for us to know the truth, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). Paul taught that we can understand the will of the Lord, "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:4). "Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:17).

The Bible refers to some who did know the truth, "I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth" (1 John 2:21). "Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth" (1 Timothy 4:3). Since some in the past did know the truth, it is also possible for us to know the truth.

Certain things are necessary in order for us to know the truth. Paul instructed Timothy to study and rightly divide the word of truth, " Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul commended the people ofBerea who heard him preach because of what they did. "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so" (Acts 17:11). Paul was an apostle and inspired of God, but they checked for themselves to make sure that they were being taught the truth.

Since human beings are not infallible, we need to check for ourselves to insure that we are hearing and obeying the truth. Our faith must be a first-handed faith and not a second-handed faith. Like Thomas who wanted to see for himself, we need to see things for ourselves to insure that we are saved and have the hope of heaven. The soul is the only part of us that is eternal and our most prized possession. Therefore, we should make every effort possible to insure the eternal destiny of the soul. If we fail to learn the truth, obey it and live by it, we will have an eternity of regret. All will appear at the judgment and be individually judged according to 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad". Do we know the truth and obey it?

Charles Leonard