With the proliferation of various social media platforms, rumours and fake news have spread widely. Many well-intentioned individuals dedicate their time to fact check and only then enlighten the public with accurate information. Despite their best efforts, misinformation has deeply influenced the majority of people, rendering the process of fact-checking ineffective. Moreover, fact-checking is often carried out in accordance with societal norms, raising questions about the reliability of news delivered through various communication channels. Without a standardised code of conduct to assess the authenticity of news, it remains challenging to ascertain the truth.
Truth Gives Freedom
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:31-32 (NIV)
Jesus instructs His followers to firmly grasp His teachings in order to grasp the truth. This assurance brings freedom. In other words, if we do not adhere to His teachings, the truth may be distorted by satan to lead people astray. Are we steadfast in holding onto His teachings to discern the truth? We often deceive ourselves into thinking we have a grasp of the truth by aligning with the ways of the world. However, when we conform to the world, the truth becomes diluted, preventing us from fully understanding it. This is why Paul urges believers not to conform to the ways of the world.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 (NIV)
In another context, Paul mentioned that as our outer selves deteriorate, our inner selves are renewed every day. Our experience of salvation should be refreshed daily in order to receive God’s guidance. If we do not renew our salvation daily, then the past experience, regardless of when it occurred, will not enable us to comprehend God’s teachings. The law was given by God once and for all to His people to renew their minds daily, but that did not occur. Despite our ignorance, God bestows new grace upon us, each day to renew our inner beings.
Do Not Believe What The World Says
At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time.
Matthew 24:23-24 (NIV)
During calamities and catastrophes in a specific region, rumours often circulate about the impending destruction of the earth. Religious individuals may tie these rumours to apocalyptic beliefs, leading them to speculate on the timing and location of the second coming. This speculation can drive believers to purchase properties at the purported site of this event, often at considerable cost. Consequently, properties in these areas are quickly snatched up. Shouldn’t it be the responsibility of believers to verify such claims against the teachings of God?
When suffering persists or occurs one after another, individuals often attribute it to an ancestral curse or interpret it as a punishment from God for their transgressions. According to the Bible, Jesus has shouldered and absolved us of all curses and sins by bearing them on the cross. Despite this scriptural reassurance, many continue to harbour a fear of curses, believe in witchcraft, and entertain such superstitions. Due to a lack of discernment rooted in the teachings of Jesus, people frequently fall prey to these misconceptions.
When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
Isaiah 28:19 (NIV)
While the truth is poised to grant us liberation, without a firm comprehension of genuine truth, freedom remains unattainable.
Freedom From What
Understanding the truth grants us freedom by emancipating us from sin. To grasp this liberty, we must acknowledge what the truth liberates us from. It is known that the entire world is under the influence of the evil one. Therefore, any understanding aligned with the ways of the world is deceptive. Jesus referred to the devil as the father of falsehood. Consequently, we should not allow the devil to interpret the scriptures.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
John 3:18 (NIV)
When we do not accept the forgiveness of our sins with some hesitation to comprehend the truth, we hide ourselves in the lies. During our childhood, we have our parents as the shelter for any threat, but as our Father God is invisible we often fail to shelter in Him, but we lie to guard us from our adversaries. We think that our lies will protect us from the challenges we face. God is well aware of our false beliefs.
You boast, “We have entered into a covenant with death, with the realm of the dead we have made an agreement. When an overwhelming scourge sweeps by,
Isaiah 28:15 (NIV)
it cannot touch us, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding place.
The knowledge bestowed upon us by God emancipates us from the pact we have forged with mortality, thus shattering every confinement and removing the veil that obstructs our view of the Gospel.
The Word Of God Is The Truth
For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
John 17: 8&17 (NIV)
Learning to drive a car can not be achieved by any theory. To drive we have to place ourselves under the wheel and should operate the accelerators and brake practically. The more we drive in difficult terrains and traffic, the more we will learn. Likewise, accepting what God has done for our salvation cannot remain simply as a theory. We should experience the difference that brings upon our lives daily by reminding this grace of God every time which will sanctify us.
We are innocent so that the world lead us in its way and we go astray. But God had given His Living Word to us to enlighten us during every darkest moment. Because the word of God has the power to equip us to conquer the strategies of the devil, despite our innocence.
The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
Psalm 119:130 (NIV)
Understanding The Freedom
The more we endure difficult situations in our lives, the more we sense the love of God. Regrettably, some individuals are unwilling to confront challenging circumstances and instead implore God to alleviate them, citing His promises to His servants.
No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.
Isaiah 54:17 (NIV)
We hold firm to the belief that intervention from God will thwart every threat against us and vanquish our adversaries. However, solely eliminating the current evil will not suffice, as a new generation will rise to replace it. Similarly, destroying a weapon will only pave the way for the creation of more advanced and potent threats.
God did not destroy the cruel weapon prepared to kill Jesus, nor did He eliminate the people who demanded the release of Barabbas and the crucifixion of Jesus. Instead, He exalted the name of Jesus on high.
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:9-11 (NIV)
Our Role In Receiving The Freedom
The ultimate requirement is that we should seek the truth. We should not expect others to change, the situation to become favourable, or the weapons to be destroyed. These factors will persist, and accusers will also emerge. However, God will grant us the strength to rebut their false accusations and to withstand the weapons that are coming against us.
To fulfill His promise, God grants us a new life, where old things fade from our minds, though not from the world. These matters seem trivial to us now. We used to torment ourselves with the words and false accusations of our enemies, but as new creations, we refuse to waste a second pondering over trivial and worldly matters, not wanting to miss God’s presence and love. Our perceptions of the world have changed, and our eyes have been opened from the blindness imposed by the god of this age.
Let us recall how much time we have wasted expecting a change in others and situations. Martha’s denial of the paradigm change that Jesus had brought into her house led her to expect Jesus to change Mary. Are we making the same mistake by expecting God to change others, thus not giving God a chance to change us?
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (NIV)
Let’s not squander our time paying attention to the cynics, but instead, let’s embrace our Redeemer, Jesus, in order to reconcile mankind with our Heavenly Father. Fact-checking the truth in this manner will give us real freedom.
The Jordan Valley 
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