Whom Can You Believe?

In a world full of spin and selective truth, “Whom Can You Believe?” points us back to the unchanging wisdom found only in God’s Word.

“Do not trust in noblemen, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs … on that very day his plans perish. How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD.”—Psalm 146:3–5 NASB

In a book about his experiences in China, a journalist described the challenge of understanding the true meaning of the words spoken in that country. Seeking to grasp the complexity of its language, he sensed that phrases could have deeper, sometimes buried, implications.

For example, he learned that the Chinese word for publicity can also be translated as propaganda. In the 1990s, the government changed the official English translation of its Propaganda Department to Publicity Department, but the Chinese word never changed.

The journalist also learned to pay attention to what was not said, “The key information isn’t what you put in, but what you leave out.” Through his experience, he gained a new understanding of how nations, organizations, and people can manage information to influence beliefs and actions, and how governments, the media, and political forces try to shape people’s opinions.

This creates a challenge for people in every country, regardless of language. We watch as people exaggerate and distort the facts, selectively withholding information to influence our beliefs and actions. Often their lies sound very convincing.

Every day, we must make decisions about those we listen to and trust. As the prophet Jeremiah warned, “The heart is deceitful” (Jeremiah 17:9 NKJV).

Don’t believe everything you read or hear. Compare it with God’s Word, and seek His wisdom, discernment, and eternal truth.

Reflection Question: How do you filter what you hear through the truth of God’s Word?