When Jesus stated, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32), it implied that anyone can obtain the truth if they want to. The question is: Is that true? Can truth really be found? The obvious answer is yes. However, it may not be as easy as one would think. The reasons for this are many. In order to help us see how truth can be found, we will approach this article by answering in the negative.

Truth Cannot Be Found If...

1. We quit before we start. Some have already taken a defeated attitude. This is where people throw up their hands and say, “Truth can’t be found, look at all the religious confusion out there.” Of course, a person will not find the truth if he thinks before he even gets started that it can’t be found. When Jesus stood before Pilate, prior to His crucifixion, He spoke of the truth which He came to deliver (John 18:37). The Roman ruler scoffed by walking away after uttering, “What is truth” (v. 38), as if to imply it can’t be known.

2. We go to the wrong source. Until a standard of truth is established in the religious realm, unity will not be reached. Therefore, the accepted phrase often stated is, “You have your interpretation, and we have ours.” But where did those interpretations come from? When people blindly follow religious leaders, problems will come (Matt. 15:14). Not only are people using man as their source of authority, they also are found to rely on their emotions, majority rule, family ties, and church creeds. When Jesus said we can know the truth, He meant the truth that came from above (John 17:17). Those who will have success in finding the truth are those who stay with the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17; John 14:6).

3. We look with blinders on. Sometimes folks can be ever learning, but never come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Tim. 3:7). The reason has to do with what one wants to accept. In other words, some simply do not have a love for the truth (2 Thess. 2:10). Just how hard is someone going to look for the true meaning when they have already decided something is okay before finding out? Having an open mind is essential in finding the truth. Being filled with prejudices will make it hard to see the truth. What makes this so serious is that many who want to hear fables, over time, convince themselves it is truth (2 Tim. 4:2-4).

4. We don’t seek it. You just don’t stumble upon truth; you must diligently look for it. Only then will you find it (Matt. 7:7). Things like studying and asking questions make it seem like too much work for many. Some want “truth” quick and easy, and want to do very little thinking. This is why false teaching is running rampant today. Those teaching error are not being challenged by their listeners to produce Biblical authority for all they teach (Col. 3:17).

Conclusion: There is a great deal of comfort in knowing we can know the truth and the truth will set us free. But as we have learned, we will not know what the truth is if we don’t learn the lessons pointed out in this article.