Though Pontius Pilate was standing in the presence of absolute truth as he was talking to Jesus Christ just before sentencing Him, he asked in John 18:38, "What is truth?" When Aleksander Solzhenitsyn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, he concluded his speech by quoting a Russian proverb: "One word of truth outweighs the whole world." Chuck Swindoll said if I could change a couple of words in that proverb, I would say, "One person of truth impacts the whole world." But most people don't want to state the truth and don't want to hear it. Caring more about self-esteem and people's feelings everything is being softened and re-branded in this politically correct society. In San Francisco with the escalating crime problem, the Board of Supervisors of the city have changed the term "convicted felon" to "justice-involved person". They have changed a juvenile "delinquent" to a "young person impacted by the juvenile justice system". They have replaced drug addicts with "a person with a history of substance use." These changes in San Francisco should surprise no one, considering the fact that one's gender is determined at the moment of conception, when sperm meets egg, and everyone knows that, we now live in a society which talks as though gender is determined by one's feelings and is fluid depending on one's changes in feelings. As absurd as this is, anyone standing for the truth is deemed hateful. But unless we become guilty of pointing our fingers at others and ignoring this reality in ourselves, how many have twisted Scripture by overemphasizing certain verses and ignoring the rest? How many talk about the Bible as being an instruction manual of how to be a good person, rather than allowing the words to speak for themselves and by so doing allow it to speak of sin and the need for repentance. Jesus said in John 8:31-32, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

When John the Baptist came preaching, he didn't bring a feel-good message, as we read him saying in Matthew 3:2, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" By doing this and speaking the truth, he was fulfilling his purpose, which should also be our purpose, as we read in 3:3, "...Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight." John didn't concern himself with their feelings or their self-esteem as he said in 3:7-9, "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves. 'We have Abraham as our father'." In Matthew 4, after fasting forty days, Jesus is confronted and tempted by Satan. Notice, though Jesus possessed all of the human wisdom necessary, He did not respond to Satan's attacks using this, but instead simply spoke forth the Word of God, as He quoted Deuteronomy three separate times. Jesus did not debate or reason with him, He simply spoke forth truth and the confrontation was over. For those who think Jesus came to bring a message of feeling good about ourselves, take note of the first words of His public ministry in Matthew 4:17, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Repent does not mean be a good person, or try a little harder. It means to change our minds. It means that we are to take stock of our sinful ways and see ourselves for the unworthy sinners that we are. It means that after realizing this we are to change our minds, and adopt God's teachings on truth, then in this humbled state, accept Jesus' free offer of salvation which can only be received in this humbled state. Notice John the Baptist wasn't impressed with outward religion, and neither is God. God looks for a change of heart and He desires a true relationship. Notice when confronted with the lies, just as we are confronted with his lies through the society that we live in, Jesus resisted Satan's lies with the Word of God. We would do well to do the same. The Bible says what it says, and means what it says. John the Baptist was unwavering in his life and as he preached because he knew he was standing on the side of absolute truth. We have that same absolute truth available to us. But do we see it as the absolute truth that it is? We waver, because we somehow believe the opposing side has merit, or we fear hurting the feelings of others, or we fear being looked at as hateful or out of step with the rest of society. We must stop if we are to do what John the Baptist did, prepare the way for unbelievers to repent and come into a relationship with Jesus before it's too late. We have truth on our side, it is time we act like it!