“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.

“Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment,” Proverbs 12:19.

We often hear the phrase these days about alternative facts, and one can certainly ‘wonder’ what is true and what is not, with all of the litany of information that we hear on the news, read in our newspapers, and scroll through on the internet.

We are so quick to jump on the bandwagon of following what is popular. But it’s like wading through a swamp, wondering what is under the surface.

And then, we may well be told that all is fine, and what may look like a dirty swamp full of leaches and muck, actually is a crystal clear pond. And to be sure, the swamp is anything but free of leaches and disease.

We as a people are so quick to swallow what we are told. When those in power tell us that they are looking out for our welfare, we believe them. Our commercials and advertisements, portray the very best that we can have in this life.

We see beautiful women and well-groomed men going about their daily lives, living in the suburbs and enrolling their children in the best of schools. And yet, as most of should know, our daily lives are filled with financial struggles and dirty dishes.

Only a fool would believe the gold and glitter that we are bombarded with daily, and yet many aspire to living a life filled with the best of life that we could attain. And then on the other hand, we have a handful of people who have decided to live off the grid so that they could lead a more simple life, where they could become more independent, and find a sense of self-reliance, even as Thoreau and others did, in the 1800’s.

Even many of those that speak from the pulpits in our nation, mix truth with half-truths. Many of our churches are actually businesses in disguise, bringing in as many people as they can, and selling the gospel to the masses.

But to be true, there are many places of worship that do speak the truth in love, and provide a place for spiritual growth and doctrine.

But still it is hard to find truth in a society where one is bombarded daily with discerning truth from error. One can get tired of wading through the swamp when many are saying that all is going to be better, when more and more snakes are popping out of the water.

It’s hard to continue sometimes, when some of your ‘friends’ ignore these things, and pretend that all is well. One can show that they pray, and use all of the right words, but underneath the surface, there is deceit and greed in their hearts. One is reminded by the characters in Animal Farm, and seeing how what was once true, is now being twisted into an ugly lie.

“It had become usual to give Napoleon the Credit for every Successful achievement and every stroke of good fortune. You would often hear one hen remark to another, “Under the guidance of our leader, Comrade Napoleon, I have laid five eggs in six days” or two cows, enjoying a drink at the pool, would exclaim, “thanks to the leadership of Comrade Napoleon, how excellent this water tastes!”…” George Orwell ^© Chapter 8.

One only has to look at the clock and notice how the tables have turned so quickly. It’s almost like time itself is hurrying at such a rapid pace, as each day seems to disappear and at lightning speed, propels us into next week, or the month ahead.

Our technology has given us more knowledge and yet, our wisdom has lagged behind at an infant’s pace to try to keep up. We are told in the book of Daniel that knowledge would increase.

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased,” Daniel 12:4.

One quickly realizes that we are living in the age of science fiction, as what now is possible, could only have been fantasized in a Star Trek episode some forty years ago.

We are almost going to infinity and beyond now, but not quite yet. But even as technology and knowledge has increased so rapidly, understanding the human soul and heart, is light years away from us still.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9.

So actually, the only ultimate truth that we can be assured of is God’s word and His abiding love for us. Everything else around us will ultimately fail. We are told that prophecy, and knowledge will fail, but faith, hope, and love will endure.

But as these things endure, we must hold claim to the ever-increasing need for God’s discernment and wisdom. For without these gifts, our eyes and ears will continue to walk in the murky swamp around us wondering if it truly is crystal clear.

First published: February 7, 2017.

Selah,
~ Stephen Hanson

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Stephen Hanson of In His Truth Ministries came to the LORD is a special way in 1975 and has prophesied regularly since. In these end-time birthing pangs we are reminded that judgment must first begin with the household of God. Will we be prepared and ready?

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