You know you’ve heard it, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness,” “Money is the root of all evil” and my favorite one . . . “God only helps those, who help themselves.” These are all phrases people claim to be in the Bible. Yet they’re not! Most people paraphrase the verses in the Bible and although they are similar, they are not accurate. For example its the “love of money” that is the root of all evil.
Well, thirty years ago when someone thought the world was going to end, it usually only affected people that they could get in contact with, you know. . . their circle of influence (20-35 people). But today, with our social media, news outlets and constant streaming of information, everything becomes a big deal. People jump on the “information bandwagons” and start spreading information, their opinions and knowledge are publicly displayed and the next thing you know. . . IT’S TRUE!
Over the last 25+ years I have graduated from a Bible College, taught at one, attended hundreds of teaching workshops regarding many different topics, taught many workshops, counseled hundreds of families, friends and loved ones, served in many ministries (large and small) and personally been a student of the Word of God. Even to this day, I am still learning. I don’t care what level you have personally attained in any area of life, if you stop learning, you stop the flow of potential into your life.
Everyone has at one point or another been the one spreading propaganda or been the victim of it. Most of this is due to people not taking the time to educate themselves or dig deeper for the truth. The Bible says in Hosea 4:6, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” So it would probably be helpful if “His people” actually took the time to get the knowledge. We are ultimately responsible to know what we believe. A recent article I read stated that Americans by and large revere the Bible, but 82% of them, don’t actually read it. In fact, a graduating high-school class that was surveyed thought that Sodom and Gomorrah were a married couple. Although that statement is funny in and of itself, it’s really not funny at all.
There is no substitute for the Word of God. There are many things around us that can easily distract us from our time in the Word, and its proving to lead to why so many people get pulled off their God-given path. Sodom and Gomorrah were actually two neighboring cities in the Old Testament where the people had strayed so far from God that it was easier to destroy it; than to redeem it.
Although there is a great influx of information being spread through different venues, take the time to read God’s Word, dig deep, get the right information, get educated and live in a belief system that is actually supported by facts. Because apparently NOT everything you read on the INTERNET or FACEBOOK is TRUE. And coincidentally, I can say this with great confidence, because I recently read on PINTEREST where Abraham Lincoln was quoted as saying, “Not everything you read on the internet is true!”