17 “ … that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”
Truth in the person of the Spirit, will be with us forever. In a world today where media has taken on the image of reality, truth is under attack. Someone has defined truth as that which corresponds to reality. But when reality is manipulated through the eye-gate, we find people, without any sense of obvious contradiction, saying such things as, “What’s true for you, may not be true for me.” Truth has become fluid. A new word has been invented, “truism,” which refers to something that is not necessarily true, but it ought to be. So, truth really has been commandeered by those who refuse to be ruled by objective reality, but wish to create a reality of their own.
In the midst of all this, the Spirit of truth still reigns, and especially in believers in Christ. As the apostle Paul wrote, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God …” (1 Cor 2:12).
Three truths are laid out concerning our relationship with the Spirit of Truth. First, we know Him. Jesus said earlier, “… you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:32). We are free from the falsehood, pretensions and manipulated imagery of the spirit of the world, and we now walk in the Spirit of Truth—because we know Him.
Second, the Spirit of Truth abides with us. He remains, takes up residence in our lives. He makes Himself at home with us. We are His temple individually (1 Cor 6:19). Where we go, the Spirit of Truth goes with us.
Third, the Spirit of Truth will be with us. His abiding will continue into the future, forever (see the previous verse, John 14:16). All three of these things picture for us a wonderful truth. As followers of Jesus Christ, though He is not with us physically, we have the ever abiding presence of the Spirit of Truth. He is a constant, shining light that pierces the darkness, and shows us the way. He illumines the Scripture so that we can understand it. He quickens, that is, enlivens, the inner man so that we are moved to walk in that light. He helps us to distinguish between right and wrong, whether morally, philosophically or practically. The Spirit of Truth helps us abandon the self-deceptions and insecurities and enables us to embrace the Word of Truth. And this reflects the reality of God. Nothing but our own lack of faith, can separate us from experiencing the Truth of the Spirit of God.
Lord, help me to walk in the light of the Spirit of Truth that You have given me.
Chuck,
I am really enjoying your commentaries on John – if only because you are forcing me to slow down and really ponder what these wonderful words mean.
Today’s commentary reminded me of a book that you might enjoy, if you haven’t already come across it: “Need to Know” by John Stackhouse, published just last year. Stackhouse engages the current modern and post-modern views of “reality” and in a charitable way offers a Christian alternative that an objective reality exists and God will reveal it to us on a “need to know” basis – the need being that which allows us to fulfil our vocation. This ties in very well with today’s reading.
With best wishes, Robert
Robert, thanks for your encouraging words. We all need to slow down and ponder God’s word. It is so wonderful and He delights to reveal it to us when we seek Him in it. Blessings, Chuck.