Always Seek the Truth
Always Seek the Truth
More than 30 years ago, I purchased a large box of old Reader’s Digest magazines, some of which dated back to the late 1940s and early 1950s. It was a treasure trove of remarkable stories.
As a pastor and writer, I am always on the lookout for interesting facts and fascinating stories to use in sermons, lessons, and articles. I often begin sermons and lessons with entertaining stories or fascinating statistics to capture my listeners’ attention. I typically build my weekly columns around an interesting story that offers a teachable lesson.
I recently reread one of my old sermons that contained one of those stories. Although the story is dated, the point it makes remains as valid today as when Reader’s Digest published it nearly 50 years ago, in October 1977.
The story was a fictional account of two Russian workers, Ivan and Boris, who considered relocating to the northern part of Russia, specifically Siberia. Soviet officials promised that wages and living conditions were excellent. However, both men knew the Soviet Union could not be trusted to tell the truth. They decided that, instead of both risking a move and discovering conditions in Siberia were less than desirable, Ivan would go first, then write to let Boris know the truth.
The friends knew censors would examine the promised letter. Ivan told his friend if his letter was written with blue ink, everything they were promised was true, and conditions in Siberia were excellent. However, if the letter was in red ink, Soviet promises were not to be believed.
Several weeks passed before the anticipated letter arrived. Upon opening the letter, Boris was surprised to discover it was written in blue ink. “Our accommodations are excellent. The supermarket has everything. I can purchase much more here than in Moscow. There seems to be only one shortage: I cannot buy red ink.”
The story proves you cannot believe everything you read or are told. On a similar, yet more serious note, in the early days of the church, some misinformed believers were intent on distorting the message of God’s grace. The Apostle Paul fought this misinformation, saying, “…if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!” (Galatians 1:8, NIV)
Just because someone says something does not make it true. Do not be too eager to believe everything you hear. Exercise appropriate skepticism when reading information on Facebook and the internet. Always seek the truth and remain vigilant to prevent those with a hidden agenda from swaying you. Never stop learning new things, even as you stay committed to the things that you know are true.