For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. (NLT)

Okay… Let’s not pull an April Fool’s Joke… Time for true confessions…  

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Scenario #1: Have you ever read a post on Facebook or Instagram and taken it as true – other than on April 1^st - because you firmly believe its premise, without going out and researching it first? I think we have all been guilty of this. We then share it with our friends and are rolling along… until one of our friends actually does the homework and finds out that it is not true. Hopefully, we then go back and correct the information with those we shared it with (with more than a little humiliation for being a rumor monger!).

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Scenario #2: We look at our list of friends on Facebook or Instagram and unfriend anyone who has a different political or religious worldview than we do. We only read the news from websites that share our worldview. We surround ourselves with people who affirm what we believe and make us feel good.

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I confess that I have found myself guilty of each of these things in the past.

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In today’s world, truth is often treated as something subjective, molded to fit personal beliefs and desires. The Apostle Paul warned Timothy that a time would come when people would reject sound teaching in favor of whatever aligns with their preferences. Rather than seeking truth, they would chase after voices that simply reinforce what they want to hear.

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This warning may even be more relevant today with the growth of the Internet and social media. With countless sources of information available at our fingertips, it’s easy to curate our own echo chambers—surrounding ourselves only with ideas that confirm our biases. But as followers of Christ, we are called to seek truth, not comfort. True wisdom comes from humbling ourselves before God’s Word, allowing it to challenge and transform us rather than manipulating it to fit our opinions.

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Jesus declared in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Truth is not a matter of personal preference—it is found in Christ. When we prioritize God’s Word over our own desires, we cultivate a heart that is open to correction and guidance by the Holy Spirit.

So, you and I need to ask ourselves: Are we genuinely searching for truth, or are we seeking validation for what we already believe? We need to pray for discernment and be willing to embrace God’s truth, even when it challenges us.

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Reflection: Here are questions I need to ask myself regularly in my quiet times…

• Are there areas in my life where I have resisted biblical truth because it contradicts my personal preferences?

• How can I ensure that I am seeking truth rather than just reinforcing my own opinions?

• Ask God to give me a heart that longs for His truth, even when it is difficult to accept.

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Do you struggle with this too? If so, I challenge you to spend more time in God’s Word and less time listening to the world. It is tough, because the world can be so enticing, and we all like to feel good about what we hold as true. The bottom line is that there is only one Truth, regardless of how many people vote for a different version of it. Don’t be fooled.  

Lord, help me to seek your truth above all else. Give me a heart that is humble, willing to be corrected, and eager to grow in understanding. Guard me against the temptation to surround myself only with voices that affirm my desires. Let your Word be the foundation of my beliefs and my guide in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.