Many so-called truths are lies that mislead. However, because truth is readily available, liars must be more subtle in their lies and misleading statements.
The word that describes this subtleness is prevaricate. Prevaricate is a milder word than lie and means to speak or act to deceive. The effect is the same, but it is accomplished using vague statements from which another may draw inaccurate conclusions rather than downright lying.
Such is the work of Satan and his minions. There’s objective truth—God’s universal and absolute Word—that will be the final judge of all people. And there’s subjective truth, which is an assumed truth determined by a person’s mind. This truth will not stand on judgment day.
The majority live by subjective truth, assuming their judgment is correct. A small minority live by objective truth—God’s Word—with the complete confidence that it can be trusted to be right about everything.
When we choose the way of truth, we keep God’s Word as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. But when we live by subjective truth, we believe the lie of Satan, which will betray us in the end. With God’s truth, we judge all things to see if they’re true.
Each person has free will and can decide what truth they will follow: subjective truth and living presumptuously or objective truth and living with a certainty that we’re in the center of God’s will.
Make sure you are following the right truth.
James H. Cagle has been preaching and getting the Word out since 1982. He has pastored for twelve years. He now writes for twelve newspapers weekly. He has published three books and is working on several others. James spent four years in the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1980 as a sergeant. He grew up in Bemiss, Georgia, and graduated from Lowndes High in 1975. He currently resides in Nashville, Georgia.