Ultimate Truth

Americans today are in tragic shape when it comes to ultimate truth. George Barna in his book Absolute Confusion notes: Most Americans reject the notion of absolute truth. Most people believe that it does not matter what god you pray to because every deity is ultimately the same deity, shrouded in different names and attributes by humankind. Nearly two out of three adults contend that the choice of one religious faith over another is irrelevant because all faiths teach the same basic lessons about life.

A few years ago on the Dick Cavett Show, the Archbishop of Canterbury was speaking with actress Jane Fonda. The Archbishop said, "Jesus is the Son of God, you know." Fonda replied, "Maybe he is for you, but he's not for me." To which the Archbishop profoundly answered, "Well either he is or he isn't." Fonda's response reflects the silly thinking of our postmodern world, that truth is simply a matter of subjective opinion. But the ultimate good news is this: "In these last days, he [God] has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe....and he provided purification for [our] sins" (Hebrews 1:2-3).

The story is told of a man who came to visit his old friend, a music teacher. As the man came in, he said, "What's the good news today?" The old teacher was silent as he stood up and walked across the room. He picked up a small hammer and struck a tuning fork. As the note sounded throughout the room, he said, "That is &ls;A.' It is &ls;A' today; it was &ls;A' 5, 000 years ago, and it will be &ls;A' 10, 000 years from now. The soprano upstairs sings off-key, the tenor across the hall flats on his high notes, and the piano downstairs is out of tune." He struck the note again and said, "That is &ls;A,' my friend, and that's the good news for today!"

The only hope for a world out of tune is to know that Jesus is the truth: "Yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). That's the good news of truth!