The Bible teaches that we should not be surprised at the depth of depravity of mankind.
We read, “For…men… hold the truth in unrighteousness…and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man… and changed the truth of God into a lie” (Romans 1:18-25).
Note in these Scriptures that mankind has “changed” both “the glory” and “the truth” of God. They go together. “Glory” is synonymous with gorgeous splendor, brilliance, and beauty. The truth of God is here parallel in the Scriptures to the resplendent beauty, the glory of God. Philosophers and poets, in addition to theologians, have noted the link between truth and beauty. The poet John Keats famously and simply said it this way in his “Ode to a Grecian Urn”:
"Beauty is truth, truth beauty – that is all
Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
Lies, on the other hand, are ugly. Deceit is ugly. Sin is ugly. Evil is ugly. Truly evil is truly ugly. All this becomes ever clearer the more we contrast it with the truly good. The Bible says that, “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:9). And He is thus thoroughly glorious; thoroughly and brilliantly beautiful! – because He is “true and righteous altogether”, perfectly Good!
God has marked His creation with the elegant and exquisite touch of beauty everywhere – in a profound proliferation of harmony in shape and sound and color that is at the same time magnificent, as well as mysteriously intriguing – so as to win our fascination and admiration, which is what beauty does.
Flowers blooming all around. Leaves budding from the trees, and birds singing in the breeze. The sights and sounds of creation remind us of the wonderful, refreshing beauty of God’s handiwork! But are there forms and functions which define beauty, and the harmonious order which make things pleasant to look at and listen to? Philosophers have wondered about this for ages. Nature is full of a very pleasant beauty and harmony tied together by a mathematical order that is both elegant and mysterious.
When we delve into the biblical truths, applying them to our world experience and to ourselves, we can find a deeply satisfying and even beautiful explanation and reconciliation of the presence in nature of both good and evil. Because the Bible tells us that the “Good” is truly, ultimately, and perfectly Good, and it will prevail! God said His work was “very good” in the beginning (Genesis 1:31) and He will see that it is so again (Revelation 21:1-6). That’s what the Bible says. It is faith, hope, and love – and it is truly beautiful!
The amazing marvels of creation should indeed remind us and teach us of God. “For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen” (Romans 1:20). And though mankind has “changed (even horribly deformed) the truth of God into a lie”, the truth remains – and returns. Mankind may keep trying to substitute Nature for God, the lie of “the creature in place of the Creator” (Romans 1:25). But the truth is not held down for long. It comes back victorious!
Joseph Goebbels, the genius Nazi propagandist with brilliant insight into mass psychology, was given complete control over radio, press, cinema, and theater in his appointment as Reichsminister for Propaganda and National Enlightenment. He, along with Adolf Hitler, epitomized the evil of the Nazi holocaust and war machine. Goebbels said the following as a key guideline for totalitarian ideologues: “It is vitally important for the State to use all its power to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” Totalitarian authority does not want the truth. The truth exposes their lies. The truth exposes their evil.
Do you realize that on Good Friday of Easter weekend, the authorities tried to kill the truth? Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Yet we know that the truth came back! Jesus came out of the tomb, showed Himself to many, and is alive to this day. The point is that no matter the evil forces coming against the truth, it “bounces back” and cannot be kept down – because the source and personification of all truth is our everlasting God and Savior! The “gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:16-18).
Truth is denounced at every hand. The crowds may holler in favor of unrighteousness – as they did for the murderous criminal Barabbas in the trial of Jesus before Pilate – but God’s truth cannot be suppressed for long! The Bible teaches this throughout, holding forth the ultimate hope of victory over sin and death. Jesus is indeed “the way, the truth, and the life”.
The great beauty about the truth of things in this world is that the co-mingling of good and evil we see and feel around us in the natural world is NOT all there is. The beautiful truth is that the Perfect, the truly Glorious, preceded everything, and will be fully restored in the end! And we are invited to participate in that Glory, available to be experienced now in “glimpses” of what is to come later, in a fullness of love, joy, and eternal community, beautiful beyond what we can imagine!
An excerpt from Mark’s book “Truth is Beauty” Vol 1, 2023, available from Creation Moments. Image above is the combined portraits of Joseph Goebbels and John Keats over a nature background.
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