Reflections On Hopeنموونە

News and noise bombards us at every moment. In every silent moment we are tempted to bring out our devices and fill the space with the latest update. Everywhere we hear warnings about ‘disinformation’ and ‘misinformation’. Some have lost belief that our news sources can be trusted. How are we to stay ‘clearheaded’ when we don’t know what we can believe?

Today’s verse is from a precious letter written by the Apostle Paul to the early church in Thessalonica. This town was under the domination of Rome. ‘Peace and Security’ was touted as the outcome of Rome’s unflinching domination, under which no contrary views were permitted.

Taking the view that Jesus was their ultimate Lord led to great hardships for the believers there. Yet they persevered, even to death. While those around them lived sexually exploitative and alcohol muddled lives, Paul encouraged these followers of Jesus to live purely and think clearly. They were not asleep and dreaming, they were awake and focused. Truth would grant protection from the misleading and coercive clamour around them. Sanity was their beacon amidst the delusions of the world.

So how do we today protect our minds from getting misled? From falling asleep or becoming intoxicated by the deluge of viewpoints and information that may or may not be accurate?

This letter to the Thessalonians gives several ways to keep clearheaded: We are to give each other comfort and encouragement. We are to resist evil and dishonouring practices. We are to rejoice, be thankful, and pray. Furthermore, we are to realise that our Lord Jesus will return for us. Even if we feel our world is in a dark night, Jesus will return and bring His light. Of this we can be certain.

As we wait with certainty and hope, let us look regularly into His Word, the Bible. For it is there that we find unchanging truth. We can keep our minds clear, despite the changing social mores and invasive lies around us, for His Word is timeless and shines light in all circumstances.

Be clearheaded. Remember sanity is not found in the correct news channel or podcast, but in holding onto the Word of God as truth. It is found in living peacefully and rightly together and trusting in His sure return.