Why Some People Never Recognize the Truth

Most people believe that if enough evidence is presented, they will recognize the truth.

Jesus said otherwise.

In John 7:17, He made a statement that turns human thinking upside down: “If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself.”

Notice what Jesus did not say. He did not say that a person must first understand everything before they can know the truth. He did not say they need more education, more information, or a higher IQ. Instead, He pointed to something much deeper: the condition of the heart.

The key phrase is “willing to do His will.”

Many people approach God as if they are the judge and He is the one on trial. They examine His Word and decide which parts they agree with and which parts they do not. They accept the commands they like and reject the ones that make them uncomfortable. They want God to fit into their plans rather than surrendering themselves to His.

That approach never leads to truth.

Jesus teaches that a person must first be willing to obey God before they can fully recognize the truth that comes from Him. The issue is often not a lack of evidence. It is a lack of willingness.

This helps explain why two people can hear the same sermon, read the same Bible passage, or listen to the same gospel message and come away with completely different conclusions. One heart is open to God's will. The other is determined to hold on to its own.

The difference is not always intellectual. Often it is spiritual.

The religious leaders in Jesus' day provide a perfect example. They knew the Scriptures. They studied them. They taught them. Yet when the Messiah stood before them, many refused to recognize Him. The problem was not that they lacked information. The problem was that they loved their own position, power, and traditions more than they loved the truth.

Jesus exposed this problem when He said in John 5:40, “and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.”

They were unwilling.

That is a word we do not hear often today. We hear about doubt. We hear about questions. We hear about struggles. Those things are real. But sometimes the greatest barrier to truth is not confusion. Sometimes it is an unwilling heart.

Many people claim they are searching for answers when they have already decided what answers they will accept. They are willing to follow God as long as He agrees with them. They are willing to obey as long as obedience costs them nothing. They want a Savior, but not a Lord.

Jesus says the person who is willing to do God's will will come to recognize God's truth.

That principle also protects believers from deception. We live in a time when false teachers are everywhere. New doctrines appear constantly. Social media is filled with people claiming special knowledge, new revelations, and secret insights. Many believers ask, “How can I know what is true?”

Jesus gives the answer.

A surrendered heart is one of the greatest safeguards against deception.

When a believer truly desires God's will above personal comfort, popularity, or tradition, he becomes much more capable of recognizing teaching that comes from God and teaching that comes from men.

Truth is not merely discovered by the mind. It is also recognized by a heart that is willing to submit to God.

That does not mean we stop studying. It does not mean we ignore evidence. It means we approach God's Word with humility rather than pride. We come seeking His will rather than demanding our own.

The person who says, “Lord, show me the truth, and I will follow it wherever it leads,” is in a far different position than the person who says, “Lord, show me the truth, but only if I like it.”

One heart is teachable.

The other is not.

Jesus taught that willingness comes before recognition. A heart surrendered to God is often the doorway through which truth enters.

Perhaps that is why some people never recognize the truth. The problem is not always that they cannot see it.

Sometimes they simply do not want to.

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“What I write is not for everyone, but what I write is meant for someone.” – Dean Butler

This work may be shared for ministry or personal use, but please credit the author when doing so. © Dean Butler