p. 93 | What Is Truth?

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 15, 1877

What Is Truth?

Thus asked Pilate, of One who stood before him, and who had shortly before declared unto him, “For this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto truth.”

Intent on proving to the rabble without that he was Caesar’s friend, he waited not for an answer to the question he had asked, and which to all is of such momentous weight, but “went out,” and with the words, “I find in him no fault at all,” offered to comply with their custom of releasing whom they would, on this occasion, either a notorious robber, or this man in whose mouth was found no guile.

Many, at the present day, are not as inquisitive as the Roman Governor, while many others may ask, “What is truth?” but are no more anxious for an answer than he, having, like him, some friend to gain, or retain, and fearing the consequences of losing such, never wait for, nor seek an answer at all.

But there are a few who not only ask the question, but are intent on an answer; and should one be given that cuts off the friendship of Caesar, or the severing of long-cherished idols, and strong but pernicious habits, they wait not to dally with duty, but yield to the requirement, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”

If Pilate cared not for an answer to so important a question, it need not hinder us from learning what is truth.

“Search the Scriptures,” and there, in words clear and legible to every unbiased mind, we may read, “Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth.”

Again, we read, “If ye continue in My word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8: 31, 32.

But many, like the Jews of old, will be ready to say, “We were never in bondage to any man.” They fail to see their subjection to evil habits, fashion’s freaks, and public opinion. But let them fully understand the claims of God’s word upon them, and choose “the way, the truth, and the life,” and indeed become disciples of Christ, and they will see the necessity of becoming free from these their masters; and the promise is, they shall be free.

Egyptian bondage is a fit comparison to the servitude that man is under, who is the slave to any evil habit.

There is nothing like the truth that will set him completely free from its power. Such can answer the question that Pilate asked, and testify also to the sanctifying power of the word in reclaiming them from darkness to light, from the service of Satan to the liberty of the sons of God.