And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. John 8:32 ESV
The truth is never subjective. Either something is true or it’s a lie. It’s always amazed me how word travelled back in Jesus’ day. If you study your Bible, you will see that even though they did not have television, internet or social media they still managed to get the word out.
Today we have all those things. The world can know what we think or what we’ve have done at the instant we think it or do it and it can go viral. Sadly, lies can do the same.
All it takes is for one person to have a false belief, make a false statement, and suddenly everyone is believing a lie. This is why gossip is so dangerous. Just because you get your information from a trusted source doesn’t mean it’s true. Your trusted source could have gotten some bad information and be unknowingly spreading a lie.
We are told in Proverbs 6:19 that one of the things God finds detestable is a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers. God hates lying. The problem oftentimes is we believe a lie and spread it thinking we are spreading the truth. We trust our friends to tell us the truth. In many cases, however, our friends have trusted someone else to tell them the truth and they believed a lie.
In Romans 1:29-30 Paul speaks of the danger of denying the living God. There will come a point when God gives you over to your sinful desires. Gossip, slander and deceit are considered among the behavior considered shameful by God.
In the media today we are hearing two versions of every story. It’s hard to know what is true and what is false. It’s hard to know who we can believe or who we can trust.
If we study our Bibles though, it becomes much easier. In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life and no man comes to the Father except through Me.”
Truth is even mentioned as part of our body armor in Ephesians 6:14 which says, “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.”
If the media lies to us, if others unknowingly lie because they may believe something false to be true, who can we believe? We can believe Jesus Christ. We can trust in His word. We know His word to be true.
Scientists have been trying for years to disprove what is written in God’s word, however, they always seem to end up supporting the Word with their findings. Lee Strobel who wrote The Case for Christ, is a classic example of this.
Jesus is the truth and His Word is true. When we believe lies spread by the media and well-meaning friends, we are more apt to spread these lies ourselves. If we know the truth is found in God’s Word, we should be spreading that instead, shouldn’t we?
Can you just imagine what our world would be like if God’s Word and the gospel spread as quickly as rumors, gossip and lies? Can you imagine what it would be like if people believed the truth instead of fretting over lies?
As you go through this day, you will no doubt here or read plenty of “false stories”. Pray to God to give you wisdom and discernment concerning these issues. In Philippians 4:8 Paul tells us to focus on what is true.
We know from the book of John that Jesus is the truth. We know that the truth will set us free. Don’t be taken in and held captive by the lies. Focus on the truth, believe in Him and He will set you free.
Have a great day!