“And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.”
Ecclesiastes 12:!2
Years ago I watched a courtroom drama in which the prosecutors (the good guys) subpoenaed a certain document from the defense (the bad guys), which was critical to their case. The defense had to hand over the document, knowing it would be devastating to their case. In order to prevent the document from being used in court, but still complying with court orders, the defense sent the document over to the prosecutors, hidden among tens of thousands of other documents. When the prosecutors looked at the trucks filled with boxes their hearts sank. The chances of finding the needed document in the time allotted to them was very slight indeed. We find ourselves in a similar situation today. God has put truth into the hearts of people everywhere. He has also given testimony to the truth in the created order (Romans 1:18-20) and in His infallible, inscripturated revelation, the Bible (Psalm 119:160; Proverbs 30:5-6; John 17:17). Our enemy the devil and those in his service understand that it is God’s word that stirs faith unto salvation (Romans 4:4-5; 10:17; Ephesians 2:8-9). Though our adversary cannot prevent God from revealing truth, he can and does work very hard to bury that truth under an avalanche of information. The prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2) is using corrupt governments and their propaganda arms, the media, public education, entertainment, and big-tech social-media platforms to overwhelm us with information. Some of it is true, some of it is false, and some is true but absolutely trivial and useless. All of it is up for debate on that lawless wasteland known as the internet. The result is not an increase in our overall knowledge of important facts, rather, it is thoroughgoing skepticism! People hardly know what to believe on rational grounds anymore. As a consequence, many have opted to simply believe what makes them feel good. In many cases, siding with popular opinion seems to do the trick. The Christian knows better. Recognizing the truth, power, and authority of the Good Shepherd’s voice, the New Covenant saint builds His life on the declarations and promises of a God who cannot lie. He may paddle out into the sea of public opinion now and then just to check the conditions and climate, but quickly returns to that which is solid, immovable, dependable. May God help us to follow Peter’s inspired instructions: “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:17-18).
God bless you, my dear church family,
Pastor John
English