Where Do We Find It?

by Aaron Burleson

Often we try to find things that are of interest to us but we are not sure where to look. We sometimes have only a vague idea of the object of our search, making the task quite difficult. Other times we know exactly what we are looking for but still don’t know where to find it. If it is food we are looking for, then we would look in grocery stores, gardens, or restaurants. We wouldn’t look in libraries or furniture or clothing stores. If it is a Big Mac that we are looking for then we wouldn’t look in a Wendy’s or a Burger King.

The Scriptures teach, “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding” (Proverbs 23:23). “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

Truth. Where do we find it?

Jesus promised His Apostles in John 14:25-26, “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

Paul reminded Timothy in II Timothy 3:15 that from childhood Timothy had known the Holy Scriptures, which were able to make him wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. Paul further said in II Timothy 2:15 for him to, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Truth can ONLY be found in the Scriptures. We ask for it by name. If we ask for a Big Mac it will have all the right ingredients: 2ABPSSLCPOOASSB (2 all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun). If we order it, that is what we get. When we ask for Truth we open the Scriptures and we get the Word of God.

In ordering a Big Mac some might add other ingredients or have some removed. Then it is not a Big Mac anymore. Sadly, some do this with the Truth as well. “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8).

Paul said in Romans 1:16 that the gospel of Christ is the “power of God to salvation for everyone who believes.” Altering the gospel destroys its power.

The Big Mac is both simple and complex. Simply, it is food. Comprehensively, it is a collection of different ingredients all designed to work together in a desired way. Truth is all encompassing. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (II Timothy 3:16-17).

One meal consisting of a Big Mac will not sustain physical life for long. We must continually eat and nourish our bodies. For us to grow spiritually we must continually receive spiritual nourishment. God expects us to grow both in knowledge and in application. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:12-14). “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh … But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16, 22-25).

The only place we can get a genuine Big Mac is at McDonalds. McDonalds owns all copyrights and patents pertaining to their unique procedures and products. Each franchise is required to follow their prescribed protocol exactly as written and taught. A Big Mac is expected to be the same anywhere Big Macs are sold.

Each local congregation of God’s people should have the same book of standards; thus the Truth taught should be exactly the same. It is “absolute.” It doesn’t change. Many people today look at religion as Burger King serves its food – have it your way. These have in mind what they want religion to be and then try to either “justify” their ideas or claim that it makes no difference to God. The Apostle Paul thought it important enough to write to Timothy in I Timothy 3:15, “but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” Paul also wrote in II Thessalonians 2:15, “Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.”

If we want a Big Mac then we go to McDonalds and order one. According to McDonalds’ pattern one will be made and served to us if we are willing to pay their price. Truth comes with a price as well. It is available if we are willing to read and study what has been made available to us through Divine inspiration. When we find it, we can contend for it. “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).