Finding Solid Ground
Our world seems desperately in need of some truth. For some reason, it seems that the basic concepts of personal responsibility have gone out the window. We're swimming in a sea of competing voices, each claiming to have the answers. But where can we find solid ground?
The Shaky Sources of Truth in Our World
Throughout history, people have relied on various sources to build societies, establish lifestyles, and make relationships work. Let's examine three common sources:
Tradition is what people have always done, passed down from generation to generation. As Ellen Goodman said, "Traditions are the guideposts driven deep in our subconscious minds. The most powerful ones are those we can't even describe and aren't even aware of." Some traditions serve us well, while others become destructive patterns that keep showing up generation after generation. Jesus addressed this in Mark 7:8 when he said, "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions."
Reason is one of our greatest gifts—the ability to think. Without it, communication would be nearly impossible. Yet reason isn't perfect. What seems logical to one person often isn't to another. As Proverbs 16:25 warns us, "There's a way that appears to be right, but the end leads to death." Reason without God's Revelation about true reality will only take us so far.
Opinion is where the sources of authority get rattled. Any person's opinion can serve as their authority, which spells trouble. Many follow Napoleon Dynamite's advice to "just follow your heart," but they don't end up where they thought their hearts would take them. The Bible describes a tragic era with these words: "In those days Israel had no king, and all the people did whatever was right in their own eyes." (Judges 21:25)
The Ultimate Source of Truth
These three sources are all most people live by in this world. But can we do better? Is there anywhere else we might find evidence of real truth? For Christ-followers, the key is God's Word.
God's Word isn't an exhaustive list of all knowledge—there are many things not covered: physics, microbiology, law, and other fields. But what we do find is the ultimate truth about reality, the way life is. Without that ultimate truth, the very essence of the meaning of life gets stripped away.
As 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us: "Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word, we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us."
Building Your Life on the Rock
Jesus said you could be wise or unwise. Wise people make sure the substructure of their lives is built on something solid. In Matthew 7:24, he said, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
Consider this comparison between popular culture and Jesus' teachings about relationships:
Popular Culture:
Find the right person
Fall in love
Fix all your hopes and dreams on that person
If it fails, repeat 1-3
Jesus' Way:
Don't find the right person; BE the right person
Live in Jesus' kind of love
Fix your hopes and dreams on God
If failure occurs, repeat 1-3
The Truth of God's Word Is Verifiable
Some skeptics cast doubt on the New Testament, claiming it wasn't written by the people we think it was. But this skepticism is verifiably untrue. The line of people who quoted the New Testament connects directly to those who wrote it. If you're quoting the Apostle John just 30 years after his death, how could someone claim John's writings came centuries later?
Archaeological findings also support the Bible's reliability. Luke names 32 countries, 54 cities, and 9 islands—all identified accurately. That's remarkable considering how place names change over time!
Time for a Change
Scripture not only shows us truth but also exposes our rebellion and corrects our mistakes. The Bible is loaded with stories of people who made mistakes—Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses, David, Solomon—showing real people with real flaws.
How do we avoid rebellion and mistakes? David's plan was simple: "Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11). God's Word is the rock. Build your house on it, and it won't fall.
Make daily Bible reading a non-negotiable habit. Don't get all your truth second-hand. God has something he wants to tell you through daily Bible reading.
Let the Holy Spirit bring Scripture to mind. In John 14:26, Jesus promised that "the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and make you remember all that I've told you." The Spirit helps you remember God's Word—but you need to know it first!
Affirm this commitment daily: God's Word shall be the foundation of my life.
Remember, this book is God's love letter to His children. People like William Tyndale paid with their lives so we could have the Bible in our own language. We hold the very treasures of life itself in our hands. Don't settle for being a spiritual infant—let God's Word transform your heart and guide your life.
Reflection
What sources of truth and authority do you currently rely on most in your daily life—tradition, reason, personal opinion, or God's Word?
In what areas of your life might you be settling for "second-hand revelation" rather than seeking God's truth directly through Scripture?
How might your decisions and relationships change if God's Word truly became the foundation of your life?
What specific steps can you take today to hide God's Word in your heart so that the Holy Spirit can bring it to your remembrance when needed?
Application
Make a commitment today to let God's Word become the foundation of your life. Set aside time daily for Bible reading—not just listening to others talk about Scripture but engaging with it directly. When facing decisions, consciously compare cultural messages with Biblical teachings. Remember that God's Word is historically reliable, spiritually transformative, and personally applicable. It reveals our mistakes while showing us the way forward through Jesus Christ.
Prayer
God, thank you for the treasure of yur Word. I confess that I sometimes build my life on shifting foundations of tradition, reason, or personal opinion rather than on your eternal truth. Forgive me for the times I've settled for secondhand revelation instead of seeking you directly. Today, I affirm that your Word shall be the foundation of my life. Help me to read Scripture daily, to hide it in my heart, and to let the Holy Spirit bring it to my remembrance when needed. Guide me through your Word to live according to your ways, not the world's. Thank you that your Word shows me truth, exposes my rebellion, corrects my mistakes, and trains me to live as you designed. In Jesus' name, Amen.
