To persuade: Providing enough evidence about something that eventually makes another believe that it is TRUE. So, WHAT IS TRUTH? Aristotle (384–322 BCE): “To say of what is that it is, or of what is not that it is not, is true.” In other words, the world provides “what is” or “what is not,” and the true saying or thought corresponds to the fact so provide. Unfortunately, this is little more than a platitude and far less than a theory. In actual investigations, what tells people what to believe is not THE FACTS but how they INTERPRET the facts. According to George Barna 64% of adults said truth is ALWAYS RELATIVE to the person and their situation. In other words, most believe there is NO ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
This is the biblical response to truth, “God is not a man, so He DOES NOT LIE. He is not human, so He does not CHANGE HIS MIND. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? NO! Has He ever promised and not carried it through? NO!” (Num. 23:19) “EVERY WORD OF GOD PROVES TRUE. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.” (Pro. 30:5) Jesus said to Thomas, “…you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I AM the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No one can come to the Father except THROUGH ME.” (John 14:4-6)
Because of these truths, Paus says, “…I am persuaded (peithō: to encourage one, by words, to believe) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor ANY OTHER created thing, shall be able to SEPARATE US from (the truth of) THE LOVE OF GOD which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham