The Great Blessing of Moral Absolutes

There is truth. Seems kind of self-evident doesn’t it? There is truth. I have taken a lot of comfort in that in my short life and more all the time. There is truth. After reading this I hope you will take comfort in it too.

Can we know it? Really, can you know what is true and what is not? If it is true for me is it also true for you? (Is the statement, “What’s true for you may not be true for me,” true for everyone? Defeats itself doesn’t it?) Yeah, real truth is true for everyone.

There is truth. So where does it come from? Are there a lot of places to find truth? I mean are there a lot of sources you can go to for ultimate truth? Is it easily found and have many sources?  If there are many sources then what if they don’t agree? If there are 2 sources of ultimate truth and they contradict each other then (1) neither are true, (2) one is wrong or (3) truth does not exist (and we’ve already settled that one.) No, no, no there can only be one source of truth if truth exists, and it does.

Now, if truth exists and there can only be one source then that one source is the author of all truth. Seems like a big responsibility. I mean really, the definition, meaning and purpose of everything is in those hands; one-stop shopping for all understanding… wow.

We all have to agree on my first two points (1.truth exists and 2.it can only have one source.) Everyone. It’s the next point that I am going to offer that we disagree on. Christianity claims that the God of the Bible is that one source. I would like to convince everyone that this is the case but I know that is not possible. But for those who will listen, let me give you a flavor of the truth(s) from this source. Then choose for yourself whether to keep evaluating the truth(s) the Bible tells us about. Let me choose just one truth the God of the Bible has declared. Just one truth, which is the core truth, I believe, of the Christian faith. It is the theme of the Bible throughout. It is God’s main truth to man. This one truth, the main truth, if it is true sets the flavor and meaning of all other truths. It colors the meaning of our existence and establishes the defaults of life in the excellent range. That one truth is that God loves us. Really? Personally? What a sublime thought to have the privilege to lay our minds on but is it really true? Does He love me personally? John 3:16 says “whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life...” (paraphrased, emphasis mine).  That sounds like individual persons… you and me.

So we have truth. Can there be absolute truths? Well, let’s put it another way. There are no absolute truths (except this one, which means there are absolute truths. The statement defeats itself.)Yes, there are absolute truths.

Love is true. Good exists. These are absolute truths. If you have never really known them, you need to investigate the Bible as truth. It will change your life elementally.  If you have experienced them but never considered that they are absolute truths, and have to be from one source, please consider reading more about the God of the Bible as the author of this kind of truth.

From what I read in the Bible it sounds like He has gone to great toil, trouble and sacrifice to get rid of anything that would separate us from Him. First of all the things we have done that would prevent a relationship with Him. How flattering is that? God is pursuing a relationship with me. Even when I am trying to avoid Him He continues to extend the invitation.  It sounds like it is important to Him to have a relationship with you (and me), a relationship based on love as the first principle. Now that truth is worth knowing.

If there are absolute truths that deal with morality does that mean there are moral absolutes? Yes. Take comfort in this Americans rather than hide from it or fear it. Remember what our forefathers wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are Created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…” “Certain, inalienable,” rights sound like absolutes to me.  If they are not then we do not have certain and inalienable rights. That would be bad news.

Our Founders knew there was truth, that there was only one source and they were convinced that the one source was the God of the Bible. It teaches of these certain and inalienable rights. To them they were self-evident. A God that endows all men and women with certain and inalienable rights (moral absolutes) that include life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness must be a God of excellence with good as His intent for us. He would be worth giving a chance. From my personal experience, He is worth investigating. He is worth seeking a relationship with. If life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are just a taste of what He had in mind for us, that deserves a look. As a nation we have come farther than any other country in blessings just by acting on these absolute truths or moral absolutes. What more is in store for those who seek more absolutes from Him and learn to build a life on them?

His sacrifice to know you and I started with sending His Son to die and pay for all the wrongs we have done. He, as the ultimate source of truth, knows what hurts and what we have done to hurt ourselves and others. As the Author of absolute truth he has the authority to forgive those wrongs based on His own criteria for payment. Frankly, the thought of absolute forgiveness of all my mistakes brings such peace to my mind and heart I don’t have a clue why anyone would not jump at the offer. In the acceptance of this forgiveness, you come to know Him for the first time and it is a real experience of peace, another of His character qualities. This is just the beginning. There is so much more to explore in those moral absolutes of excellence, adventure, relationship, trust, risk, sacrifice and yes above all else love. I absolutely dare you to seek a relationship with Him.