Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Observations From Scripture of our Times and Seasons by Kenton Cheek

“This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:

“Do not call conspiracy
    everything this people calls a conspiracy;
do not fear what they fear,
    and do not dread it.
The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,
    he is the one you are to fear,
    he is the one you are to dread.”

–Isaiah 8:11-13

     Conspiracy theories are rampant in our society.  No wonder we are paralyzed with fear, anxiety and depression. We worry about things that aren’t even true, let alone applicable to our own lives. Through the internet and specifically social media, all kinds of ideas, usually riddled with suspicion and fear, spread like wildfire and stir up all kinds of fervor.  Sometimes there is some truth to these theories, usually just enough to make them believable.  While I do believe that we ought to seek truth and justice, we should also not waste our time, energy and resources on matters that we have no control over and cannot truly influence one way or another. 

     The Bible contains many true stories of figures and groups conspiring with one another to accomplish whatever aims they may have.  In Jeremiah 11, the Lord God spoke of a conspiracy among the people of Israel, that they were scheming to return to their old idolatrous ways.  Judas Iscariot conspired with the religious leaders in Jesus’ day to plot his betrayal and the arrest of our Savior.  There were Jews who conspired to kill the Apostle Paul in Acts 23.  It is right to research and study what we know to be truth and expose what is false, but we should not obsess over hyped up headlines meant only to upset us and rob us of our peace and money.

     And so, I think that God would have us to be wise as serpents and innocent of doves.[1]  Focus on what He has instructed us to do, how we are to be, and mind our own business.[2]  Don’t give ourselves over to wasting time on speculation, rather, judge situations fairly based on the facts. 

This is difficult to do in a world filled with so many lies, so let us stick to what we know to be true: God’s Word the Bible illuminated by the Holy Spirit and confirmed by the testimonies of ourselves and our brothers and sisters.  Focus on the truths of Scripture and move forward from there.  Let us be about our Father’s business of loving Him, loving others, loving ourselves and making disciples as we go along.

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron…

If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly

–I Timothy 4:1-2, 6-7

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

–II Thessalonians 2:10

Have no fear of sudden disaster
    or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for the Lord will be at your side
    and will keep your foot from being snared.

 –Proverbs 3:25-27

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[1] Matthew 10:6

[2] I Thessalonians 4:11-12