Here’s a question for you…
“In our age of disinformation, how do you know what’s true?”
Some respond by saying there’s no way to tell… so they become skeptics and give up trying to sift fact from fiction.
I understand the sentiment…
But I don’t believe this is a response anyone should take.
Jesus tells us knowing the truth is essential for living in freedom (Jn. 8:32)…
And, no matter how buried it may be, the truth is still “out there” to be discovered.
So…
What can you do to put yourself in a better position to find the truth? In a day full of confusion, deception and lies?
Here are some essential starting points…
1) Read (or listen to) God’s Word regularly (as in daily)
The Bible is able to penetrate the deepest issues of the heart (Heb. 4:13).
And making it your practice to live in it will equip you more than anything to know the truth about people and how things work in God’s world.
It’s also His primary method for training us to discern between good and evil (Heb.5:14).
2) Apply biblical rules evidence
Scripture tells us “every fact is to be confirmed by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (2 Cor. 13:1). So seek multiple sources as you try to make your own conclusions about anything.
And consider who your sources are too! Are they trustworthy or more likely agents of propaganda?
Oh, and memorize and apply this verse:
“The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him” (Pr. 18:17).
3) Walk according to God’s Spirit
We live in a spiritual world where our ability to perceive anything accurately depends on abiding in Christ.
The truth of this scares me — in a good way — when I remember that God uses deception and the following of lies as a way to discipline those who stray from Him (1 Kgs. 22:23; 2 Thess.2:11).
Let that sink in and encourage you to obey God in everything!
Consider also…
The Spirit of God is known as the ‘Spirit of truth’… and He’s been given to us to guide us (Jn. 16:13)…
So it only makes sense to walk according to His ways if we wish to know the truth.
I could say more on this topic.
But I will stop here with an earnest exhortation to apply these three principles diligently…
… And may greater knowledge of truth and experience of freedom result!
