Truth is one of the most interesting studies a person may engage in! However, many stand with Pilate, and continue to ask: “What is truth,” as though there is no such thing as “truth.” Like one plus one, may at some time not equal two! Cut it up anyway you like; such as: one half of one, plus one half of one, plus one, still equals two. Is a foot, as it appears on a ruler, ever less or more than twelve inches? You can cut the ruler in half, each piece having six inches; but the two halves still add up to twelve inches! In order words, it always takes twelve inches to equal a foot. Just think of a world, where one country had a foot that only measures ten inches; while another has, a foot equaling fourteen inches.
There have been times in antiquity where systems of measurement were defined locally: the different units might be defined independently according to the length of a king’s thumb or the size of his foot, the length of his stride, the length of his arm, but this meant, that with the change of kings, so would follow a change of measurements! Then, there was the problem of trying to purchase something in another county; you order something to be made which is to be ten feet long; but the second country had a different standard of measurement. No one would ever be sure what he might get!
Now, let us take the above and apply it to “truth!” As Pilate asked: “What is truth?” (John 8:38). Church one has one “truth,” church two has another “truth,” and on and on it goes. You can see, the problem is like a different standard, based upon the length of a king’s foot, but this is a man-made teaching! The measurement of how long a foot is, can be determined by man. All they must do to set a standard, which is agreed upon by other countries; thus, when you call for a piece of lumber to be ten feet long, you know what to expect when it arrives. Of course, this writer is aware of an unfinished ten-foot board and a finished ten-foot board. A finished two-by-four is only one and a three-quarter inch by three and three-quarters inches. If you should look how old houses were built, you may find unfinished lumber, but this is understood! When our “fathers” called for a ten-foot board, they knew it would be unfinished and so they built with it! But this was understood, as it related to lumber but can never be the case of “truth!” There is no unfinished “truth!” Jude wrote: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (verse 3). Here attention is called to the Greek word used by the Holy Spirit. It is “hapax” and means: “1) once, one time, 2) once for all (time, frw). It is the same word used in Hebrews: “So Christ was once (hapax: once, one time; once for all time) offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb. 9:28). Therefore, Jude using the word given by the Holy Spirt is saying that: “the faith which was once – once for all time – delivered unto the saints.” There is no need to go looking for, or expecting a new revelation; once the “truth” was delivered, it was not going to be delivered again, nor would ever be a “new” or another revelation! On this point, Paul wrote: “marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-7). So, “what is truth?” It is “the faith which was once for all time delivered unto the saints!”
Truth does not change, based upon what church you are a member of, truth by its very nature, never changes and is the same here, there, and elsewhere! Yes, there are many who try to convince us, that they have the “truth,” but don’t you believe it, unless it comes from the word of God. If you have three churches, each teaching a different doctrine; one thing for sure, at least two of them are wrong and maybe all three are wrong!
My friends, if you value your own soul, you must have the same spirit as the prophets of old, who “enquired and searched diligently” the prophecies of old (1 Pet. 1:10); we must “enquire and search diligently” for the truth. If I may, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!
–Frank R. Williams