Good morning,
Can you tell fact from fiction? It used to be much easier. In the pre-internet era a magazine in the grocery checkout lane might have had a sensational title such as “My next-door neighbor is a Martian!” Obviously, it was merely a sensational title to sell magazines. But now with Twitter, blogs, and other online platforms, the truth can be much harder to decipher. That has led to the popularity of fact-checking websites. But who checks on the fact-checkers? How do you know whether the media is putting their own spin on a story. Maybe you’re at the point where you question just about everything you hear and wonder just what and whom you can believe.
It’s not a surprise then that many treat Scripture with the same skepticism. We too are not immune from wondering whether we can trust everything we read in the Bible. Are all people by nature really as bad in God’s eyes as the Bible teaches? Is Jesus the only way, truth, and life? In these uncertain times when everything seems out of control, is God really directing the course of the world and human history? On a more personal level, does God know and care about me? Does it matter to Him how my day is going? Once they get started, those questions and doubts have a way of snowballing until they can threaten faith and salvation.
So how do you tell fact from fiction? Thankfully, it doesn’t depend on our own reason or research. We don’t have to rely on the reputation and expertise of other people. God Himself reveals the truth in His Word. Peter writes, “We also have the completely reliable prophetic word” (2 Peter 1:19). We don’t have to fact-check each book of the Bible or determine verse by verse what is true. It’s all true. Jesus prayed to the Father, “Sanctify them by the truth. Your word is truth” (Jn. 17:17).
We may never know where the COVID virus started or its true severity, but we do know that all pain and suffering are a symptom of sin which condemns us to eternal death. More than that, we are certain of whom we can trust for forgiveness and help with every earthly trial. “Praise the LORD…who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases” (Ps. 103:2-3). “The blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 Jn. 1:7). We may never know the truth of what goes on behind the scenes in government. But we do know beyond a doubt who brings about the rise and fall of nations. “There is no authority except that which God has established” (Rom. 13:1). We may never be aware of all the dangers we are exposed to, but that doesn’t matter because we do know this: “Indeed the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” (Lk. 12:7).
Rather than being alarmed by what we do not know, let’s be confident in the facts God has made known to us for our comfort now and our eternal salvation.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor
Services tomorrow are at 8:00 and 9:30 a.m. The 8:00 a.m. service will be live-streamed on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCga_B5unzZ3PtyfheVxoobg/videos?view=2
Please pre-register if you are planning to attend in person:
Messiah Lutheran Church Service signup.
From the Messiah Tech Committee…
Sunday Live Stream
The Tech Committee is ending our service with Ustream at the end of June. This month, the service will continue to be available on both YouTube and Ustream. Beginning the first Sunday of July (July 5th), the online service will no longer be available on Ustream. We ask that those of you still using Ustream try out the service on YouTube to make sure it will work for you. If you encounter any issues viewing the service on YouTube, or have any questions/concerns about the switch, please contact the Board of Education. They will relay any concerns to the appropriate Tech Committee members.
Messiah’s YouTube channel can be found at the address listed below. You can also find it by clicking the red YouTube icon on the top right corner of Messiah’s website. In addition, if you are viewing the service on a smart TV or other non-computer device, you can search in the YouTube app for “Messiah Lutheran Hales Corners”, our channel name.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCga_B5unzZ3PtyfheVxoobg/videos?view=2
