A battle rages in the media today over “fake news.” In the news media outlets from television, to the internet and social media. Everyone seems to be talking about fake news from President Trump, the Russians, or the Clinton’s, the world is a buzz with fake news. It is hard to know who to believe anymore and what is true, and the internet has made it easy for false stories to spread like wildfire.
“Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see.” – Benjamin Franklin
When I was a child, we often played the telephone game. Do you know what the telephone game is? Or am I dating myself? Perhaps you know it by the name of whispers or Chinese whispers. If you are not familiar, then let me explain. You would sit in a circle or form a line and then tell someone an anecdote, word, or phrase by whispering it in the ear of the person sitting next to you. They would tell the person next to them, and this would continue until you got to the last person who would say aloud to everyone what the word or phrase he heard. As children, we would get the biggest laughs because the thing the last person heard and said aloud was never even close to what was originally said.
[ctt template=”2″ link=”Oq_G8″ via=”yes” ]There is nothing new under the sun.[/ctt]
Things are not always as they seem. Fake news and the telephone game have much in common with the whispery lies of the enemy of our soul. The enemy likes to whisper false news in hopes that we will turn away from what we know to be true, and believe the lies, and often he uses well-intentioned people, even good Christians to twist words, and spread lies.
Have you ever read the fictional work of JRR Tolkien or seen the Lord of the Rings Movies, if so perhaps you remember a creepy character known as Gríma Wormtongue. He was the chief adviser to King Theoden of Rohan, and through his deceitful lies and whispery secrets, he cast a spell over the King, until he no longer resembled himself. The lies of a whispery confidant physically, mentally, and spiritually changed his countenance. This is one of the reasons the Bible warns us about the company we keep.
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” – Revelation 12:12 ESV
A war rages in this world today for truth, but also for our very souls! The devil knows his time is short and would like nothing more than to divide our families, our churches, our neighborhoods, communities, and nations. He wants to steal our joy, and rob us of our peace to keep us from living the abundant life that Jesus Christ has to offer us.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. – John 10:10 ESV
Where can we find truth today?
How do we know what to believe? Where do we find truth? Not in the sense of philosophical discussion, or lofty debate, but real truth, the kind of truth that changes peoples hearts and lives. The kind of truth that tears down strongholds can only be found in the word of God.
We are all sinners, but as we turn our hearts toward Christ and press into Him and read, study and memorize his word, we can combat the lies of the enemy and replace it with the truth of Jesus Christ. Through the practice of worship and thanksgiving, we keep our hearts focused on Him.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:1-5 ESV
Jesus Christ is the Word of God, and He is the light of the world and through the power of Jesus, darkness in this world is dispelled. Satan is a defeated enemy. Through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary, not only does He overcome the world, but everyone who believes in Him overcomes the world too! Our faith in Jesus Christ overcomes the world. It is not just at the moment that we believe in Jesus, but it is a continuous action of exercising our faith in Jesus that overcomes the world.
[ctt template=”2″ link=”eB7U6″ via=”yes” ]The world and the enemy would like to deceive us with fake news, we must choose to believe the word and the truth of Jesus Christ.[/ctt]
Friend, do you know Jesus Christ as your confidant and personal Lord and Savior? Jesus loves you and wants you to know the voice of truth. If you have not put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ today, I would encourage you to pray a simple prayer of faith. Ask Jesus to come into your life and be the Lord of your life today. Simply ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and ask Him to be Lord of your life. Then I would encourage you to pick up a Bible and begin reading the greatest love story ever told.
For my believing friends, what do you do to combat fake news? Do you have a go-to verse to keep your mind steadfast and focused on the truth? If so, I would love for you to share it with me.
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