The Truth Wants to be Found

The other day I was catching up with one of my favorite shows, The Steve Deace Show. He lives and broadcasts right here in a few towns over, and combines politics and the Christian worldview beautifully. In the following episode, he brought up some particularly thought-provoking topics and disturbing trends that I thought were very important to address. One of which is the toxicity of Candice Owens, a figure who has stirred considerable debate and controversy in today’s media landscape. Her rhetoric often polarizes audiences and fuels divisiveness, making it essential to examine the implications of her influence.

But the thing I want to address is not with Ms. Owens specifically, but something that is even more insidious and goes deeper than just one person. It was something Steve said that triggered memories of conversations I’ve had with unbelievers in which you can give them all the answers they ever want, and it’s still not enough.

“You wanna ask questions to seek truth—you ask any question you want. But when truth is made known and made obvious and you continue to ask questions—then you are the problem. You weren’t really after the truth.”

Steve Deace

We see this time and time again with people who are asking rhetorical questions: meaningless language with an exaggerated style intended to impress—not wanting the truth. One question I ask atheists in particular is: “If I were to give you all the proof of God’s existence you ever want to your satisfaction, would you worship Him?” The answer so far has always been —”No.” Therefore, when they are asking questions, they aren’t interested in the answers; they are only interested in tripping you up.

We see the Pharisees and scribes ask Jesus questions throughout Scripture. “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” (Matthew 12:38) Jesus responds by saying, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” Jesus knew the heart of the Pharisees and Scribes. Jesus was giving them signs this entire time, yet still unconvinced they wanted more. You cannot please these types of people. Jesus teaches us — don’t bother.

Those who hear the truth and deny it have the same spirit as Pilot; when Jesus—truth incarnate, the King of kings—was standing directly in front of him, asked, “What is truth?” (John 18:38) I don’t blame him though, because Jesus probably looked like any average Hebrew man. He was born in a stable, the “son” of a carpenter and at the time a single mom. There wasn’t anything special about Him—looks-wise. But He, though fully God and fully man Created everything in existence and kept the universe in motion as He humbly stood in front of the governor of a dot on a map.

God asked questions

It’s true that God asked questions as well, but He always expected a response. He didn’t ask these rhetorical questions just to pique the curiosity of man, but that man would submit to his Creator and the Lord of all. God often asked questions, not because He lacks knowledge, but to draw people into reflecton and repentance. He asks questions often in the same way as a loving and compasionate human father seeks to engage in conversation to prompt them to think about their choices and invites self-examination. We see this in the last few chapters of Job, when God confronts Job for complaining against Him. God responds to Job and then has a few chapters of questions Himself.

“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: ‘Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.'”

Job 38:1-3 NKJV

It’s after this statement God spends the last few chapters declaring who He is, all the while reminding Job who he’s not — all by asking questions and demanding answers.

Jesus asked questions

Jesus asked questions as well and He wanted answers. Jesus, being God in the flesh, knew the heart of man, therefore knowing their thoughts, intentions, and motives, but wanted flawed human beings to answer and think about what Jesus was prompting.

As our loving Creator, He asks His disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15) He’s really wanting a response even though He knows it, He is wanting them to verbally admit it. There is power in saying words out loud; whether it be confession of sin, admitting failure, prayer, or declaring truth to believed.

Jesus also questioned the Pharisees in Matthew 22:20-21, asking, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” when shown a coin in order to teach about rightly relating to earthly and heavenly authority. In John 5:6, Jesus asks the paralyzed man at the pool, “Do you want to be healed?” a question meant to stir up faith and desire, not information. You may say to yourself, of course he wants to be healed; but you’d be surprised to know that many people who are in dire straits actually like their lifestyle and would not want it changed, no matter how awful it is to the average person.

Truth wants to be found

True understanding comes not just from knowing facts, but from responding rightly to Him who is the Truth (John 14:6). We should seek the truth because the truth wants to be found; lies and deception don’t want to be found out. Truth wants to be examined, tested, and found.

God reassures His people in Jeremiah 29:13, “You will seek Me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.” Jesus in Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives, and the one who seeks — finds.”

Therefore, we need to ask questions to receive answers. We need to question and test everything that comes across our eyes and ears whether on social media, news outlets, internet, and in conversation. In the end:

Truth will be revealed.

Lies will be exposed.