Today and Tomorrow

We can no longer trust what we see and hear in the media to be true. The news programs have become the mouthpieces of political ideology. We choose which channel to watch based on our own ideology rather than on the reliability of the source. Facts are increasingly rare and often manipulated to fit the ideology of the source. 

We watch YouTube videos on biblical subjects hoping to get answers, and we what find many times is one person's opinion. Follow the topic, and we will find other opinions. Which is true?

Increasingly, for political content as well as biblical, we are met by AI generated talking heads who are not the person pictured but someone using AI creation software. And there is no way to know if the talking head represents the real person's message or ideas or not. 

I recently watched a series of messages by Dr. John MacArthur. I liked his messages. But the AI generated visuals and edited content was not only distracting but left me with the question whether this was MacArthur's message or not. That is not good. It opens the door to deception by the Enemy. And, my goodness, do we live today at the time of deception the Jesus warns us of? Without a doubt.  

23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time. (Matthew 24:23-25) 

Paul repeats Jesus' warning.

 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. (2nd Thessalonians 2:9-10)

We are in that time. It will not get better. So, how do we discern truth from a lie? We put it up alongside the word of God and see it it aligns. When John MacArthur speaks, check it with the word of God. When we watch the events of the day on the computer or TV screen and hear the opinions of those who report them, check it with the word of God. Do they represent truly what we read there? Do they promote the godliness and justice we learn there? Or do they promote ungodliness?   Pay attention. 

Do they excuse the immorality or lawlessness we are warned of in the word of God? If they do, they are a deception and a lie. Turn that off. 

May God grant us the discernment to know the truth and to reject the lie.