We Know the Truth

1 John 3:18-20 Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19 This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20 whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
 
DO you want to know truth? Isn’t that mankind’s dilemma? The truth was Pilate’s question as Jesus stood before him. “What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.” (John 18:38) Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the raging crowd urged him to crucify Jesus. Pilate was caught between his authority and the public outcry. Was the truth the right response to free an innocent man? Or was the truth a convenient escape to please the raging crowd? Then Pilate decided. He did what most people do when we wonder: “What is true? What do I do?” Pilate focused on himself.
   You could say that Pilate was mankind’s representative, standing before his Creator. He was desperate to defend himself against the Truth, who stood before him. He was even willing to kill the Truth to protect himself. That’s what we do, don’t we? In our sin nature, our desire is to say: “I belong to My Truth.” Tragically, the world-view of “My Truth” causes us to miss the Truth, who has mercifully revealed himself to us. How, then, do we know we belong to the truth? it’s having a faith that sets our hearts at rest in his presence.
   The truth is that all is centered on Jesus. Your heart rests in the knowledge of God’s forgiveness, holiness and mercy. Many Bible verses describe people’s fearful hearts when God’s holiness appears before them. But God, who is rich in mercy, revealed himself to cleanse and comfort our hearts through Jesus Christ.            
   When you know Jesus, you know you belong to the truth. You understand God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. You can trust God’s love because he came to you before you knew him, so you would have life in him. Think about that. God loves you more than  your heart can know. He is willing and able to fulfill his promise that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. The truth is we don’t have to carry our sins. Our Lord took them to the cross. He has made the way to forgive your sins and free you from its burden.  
   When you know this,  the truth is our hearts do not condemn us if we have confidence before God. The world wants to condemn your sin. And you probably want to condemn your sin, too. Maybe you think it right to say, “I am a sinner.” But now In Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13) Your heart, is no longer a sinful heart but a redeemed heart when your desire is to please God.
   How wonderful to know, “if you hold to my teaching and you are my disciples, then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31b-32)