If you live long enough you just may hear anything. I have heard how I can buy houses with no money. I can send a vow of $10 or more and receive untold riches. I can have a medical miracle or financial prosperity from God by sending for, and properly using (they come with instructions to follow which usually include being on a regular mailing list to solicit funds) any of the following “free” items; miracle manna bread, anointed oil, miracle water, green prosperity prayer cloth and (my personal favorite) the red blood of Jesus prayer handkerchief. I can also lose weight while I sleep, have great abs without difficult exercise by ordering any number of exercise aids, usually for $19.95. I can take a certain pill and eat all I want and not gain weight. I can also take 5 strokes off my golf game with any number of instructions, videos or gadgets again usually for that magic price of just $19.95 (I wonder if I tried them all would they combine and take off the 72 strokes that make par and I simply would not have to go to the course? Then I could do something else with that money spent of green fees…maybe send in another vow and get another prayer cloth.). Then there are other examples of marvelous things that politicians will tell you they will do for you when they get in office. If you are still buying those promises I may need to send a red blood of Jesus prayer cloth to you. I can’t guarantee it to give you that miracle the politicians and others are promising you but you can use it to cry in when you realize you have been duped again.
These are just a few of the things you can hear from watching TV (especially if you do not require as much sleep as the normal person), listening to some speeches, sermons or much that is going on around you each day. How do you know how to filter out the nonsense and discern the truth? How do you know who or what to believe today? One politician tells us one thing while another says the opposite. Then if they are selected to run on the same ticket they suddenly agree. Someone once said the only way you can tell when a politician is lying is to check and see if their lips are moving. However, politicians are not the only ones to lead us astray. It is hard to know which newscaster to believe. One certainly can’t trust advertisers. One commercial tells us soda is the way to go. Then we hear that one diet soda a day will cause weight gain. One doctor may recommend surgery while another says change your diet. I really worry when they want their money up front, which may mean they don’t think my prospects look good enough to pay later. It can really become troubling when you don’t know which preacher to trust. While these other issues are important eternal issues hang in the balance with these messengers.
Truth is far too important in any matter to be lost by the way it is clouded by presentation. Remember that was the tactic in the Garden of Eden. The original deceiver was crafty and made deceit look attractive. The problem with far too many of us lies with the truth that we share the same problem of Pilate in John 18:39. He stood face to face with Jesus, God in flesh, truth incarnate (see John 14:6) and asked him the question, “What is truth?” Yet before Jesus could answer that profound question Pilate turned and addressed the Jews. Quickly seeking to remove himself from involvement from this difficult situation. You see too many of us are more worried about the easy out than the truth. Truth may not always lead to what initially seems to be the easy road but Pilate, like the rest of us would have fared far better if he had remained in contact, conversation and communion with the truth, Jesus. The truth is always the best solution in the conclusion of the matter. It may not be pleasant to deal with at the moment but the end result is well worth it.
Who can you believe? You can always trust and believe Jesus! His eternal word and His teachings will always guide you and will never go out of style. The problem stems from the fact that far too many do not actually read, study, understand or follow His word or teachings. I have seen far too many so called ‘liberal’ and ‘conservative’ preachers skip or misuse the Bible for their own agenda rather than shape their lives, agenda and ideas to the truth of the Bible. I watched one of the most popular pastors in the country; in the largest church deliver a very positive message but it was roundly incorrect in its theological content. However, his congregation nodded in approval. They were either unaware or unconcerned with the fact that they were in church and were hearing a non-Biblical message. (To his credit he has admitted that he is not a theologian and his ‘call’ is to uplift and encourage people. My concern is that one can be uplifted and encouraged by reading Prevention magazine. When one comes to church one should hear life-changing eternal truth that comes from faith in the resurrected Christ and not hear simple positive philosophy.)
Far too many people in the pew or watching TV will place unwavering trust in the presentation of some polished preacher or gifted speaker. Jesus tells us in John 10 that his sheep know him and will listen to His voice. Life here and especially in eternity depends far too much to trust anyone but Jesus. Let us not make the mistake of Pilate and walk away from truth. Take time to stay the presence of Jesus and learn how to know when you hear His voice and not be deceived by another. Too much is at stake!
