The plague is on its way.
AI is going to kill off all humans in the next decade.
Our food sources are all contaminated.
There won’t be any more water on Earth in a few years.
SCARY, right?!
There are so many scary things happening and being reported in our world today. But here’s the question: Is it true?
Although we’re officially in “spooky season,” I think one of the scariest things happening right now is the amount of untruth and misinformation spreading so rapidly around the world. Think about it. Most of us receive the majority of our information from what we see on our phones. And so much of that information is either untrue, altered, filtered, or specifically delivered to us because of an algorithm. We’re often only seeing one side of a story, one perspective, or information that reinforces what we already believe.
And unfortunately, I believe the same thing is happening when it comes to people and our faith.
Right now, there are people claiming to be followers of Christ, claiming to be disciples of our Holy Father in heaven, who are speaking so many untruths and doing so many ungodly things that people who have not yet come to Christ are left wondering what is actually true.
This.
Is.
Scary.
And while misinformation and deception are certainly concerning, Scripture reminds us that there are many other difficult and frightening things that will happen in this world. There are so many things happening around us today that remind us of what our Bibles have already told us about the future and the promise that Jesus will return.
In Matthew Chapter 24, Jesus speaks about what is to come. He tells us:
- We will hear of wars and rumors of wars (verse 6). But Jesus also tells us not to panic! These things MUST take place.
- Nation will go to war against nation (verse 7).
- There will be famines (verse 7).
- There will be earthquakes (verse 7).
- Believers will face persecution (verse 9).
- There will be moral decay, sin, and a decrease in love throughout the world (verse 12).
- People will deceive others, with some claiming to be the Messiah and others speaking as false prophets (verses 5 and 11).
(Please read your Bibles, y’all…)
Now, as scary as all of these things may seem to many of us comfortable Americans, who often find ourselves consumed with first-world problems, I believe one of the scariest things isn’t necessarily what is happening around us.
It’s not knowing what to do when we’re faced with it.
How do we know what’s true? How do we recognize deception? How do we know whom to listen to, whom to follow, or what to believe?
And most importantly, how do we make sure that WE aren’t being led astray?
The answer is found in God’s Word.
We must learn to TEST THE SPIRIT.
In 1 John 4, we are reminded:
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God.”— 1 John 4:1–3 (NLT)
And then, beginning in verse 7, the writer continues with another important reminder:
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”— 1 John 4:7–8 (NLT)
Do you see how these things connect?
We are called to discern what is true, but we’re also called to demonstrate who God is through the way we live and love others. We cannot simply claim to follow Christ. Our actions, our words, our interactions, and the fruit of our lives should reflect Him.
So, how will they know that we are followers of Christ?
By our LOVE and by our FRUIT.
And how will we discern the truth?
By TESTING THE SPIRIT.
As believers, we are not promised a cushy, comfortable life. We are not promised that we will never experience fear, hardship, persecution, lies, confusion, or difficult relationships. But we ARE promised a Savior who will fight for us and with us.
And that is why our Bibles should bring us comfort, especially in these last days. We don’t have to live in constant fear of what is happening around us because we know that truth lies within the pages of His Word.
Hold tight to His Word.
When you’re faced with fear, doubt, confusion, worry, or deception this season, OPEN THAT BOOK!
God’s unchanging Word is there to guide us through it all. Within those pages are real stories of perseverance, miracles, hardship, faithfulness, and hope. And thankfully, we aren’t left to figure everything out on our own.
When we are saved, we have a Helper and Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who lives within us, guides us, and reminds us of who we are and WHOSE we are.
And let me tell you, I’ve needed those reminders myself lately.
Over the past few months, I’ve personally been faced with a lot of questions, fear, concerns, and confusion. I’ve experienced some negative interactions with people with whom I’ve normally had decent, or even really good relationships.
But through knowing God’s Word, testing the spirits, and calling on the Holy Spirit who lives within me, I’ve been able to find peace with the outcomes of those interactions. I know my heart. I know my intentions. And I know that I can bring those things before God, trust His guidance, and find contentment even when situations don’t unfold the way I might have hoped.
And that’s what I want for each of you, too.
My prayer for you this season is that you DON’T GET SPOOKED!
Don’t get spooked by the untruths of this world.
Don’t get spooked by the spiritual deception and false teachings that surround us.
Don’t allow the lies, confusion, fear, and deception lurking around us to take hold of your heart or distract you from the truth of God’s Word.
Remember, although we live in this world, this world is not our home. We have an eternal home with our Heavenly Father to look forward to!
But in the meantime, we need to be equipped. We need to know what lies ahead, and we need to understand how to stand firm in our faith when life gets difficult.
Your Bible is your guide through all the scary and hard things to come.
Don’t allow Satan to get a head start on you simply because you haven’t taken the time to learn what God’s Word says, what to expect, or how to prepare yourself for the spiritual battles you may face.
Hosea 4:6 says: “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge…” (NIV)
Y’all, don’t allow yourselves to become paralyzed by fear, misinformation, or lies.
Educate yourselves. Read your Bibles. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Test what you hear against God’s Word, and pay attention to the fruit people produce. And above all, LOVE as Christ has called us to love.
The King of Kings is coming soon.
MOST importantly…
If you’ve been coming to SoulfulMOTION Fitness classes and you’ve been wondering what it means to be saved, how to begin a relationship with Jesus, or how to welcome Him into your life, PLEASE, PLEASE reach out!Jesus has already paid the price for you. His love is available to you, and He is ready to welcome you into His Kingdom.
You don’t have to have everything figured out. You just have to be willing to take that step toward Him.
So this spooky season, let’s not be consumed by fear. Let’s be equipped with TRUTH, guided by the HOLY SPIRIT, and rooted in LOVE.
Don’t get SPOOKED. Get in the WORD!
Blessings to you all!
