How Much Of What We Believe Is Really True?

           I once heard a story about a man who worked in the local factory. This man had an important job, as he was responsible for the timing of everything in the factory - everything from the timing of the automated machines that produced their wares, to the locking and unlocking of the plant each day, right down to the whistle that blew to start the day at the factory each morning. For years this man had set the clock by the time on a beautiful, ornate, antique clock sitting in the window of the local jewelers

shop.

He was walking by the jeweler’s shop one afternoon when he noticed the jeweler out sweeping off the stoop. After all these years, he realized he had never met the man before, so he introduced himself and inquired about the clock.

            “Hey”, he said. “That is a beautiful old clock. I’ll bet that clock keeps perfect time.”

            “You bet”, said the jeweler. “In fact, for years now I’ve been checking it each Monday morning with that factory whistle and it has always been right on!”

            Much like that man from the factory, and the jeweler, we should always try to be aware of where we get our info from and understand that we live in a world of flawed humans, just like us, and because of that it is a given that right now believe lies in some major areas of our lives.

            There are just too many sources that can't be trusted because all those sources have believed lies too. Living in the age of the internet only makes the problem worse. It means that not only are there ten million times more opinions than ever before – It means that we get to hear ten million times the BS from people who have absolutely no idea what they are talking, in any number of areas, spewing out misinformation, that too many in our internet culture are quick to digest as fact and regurgitate to the next pupil/teacher in the perpetual school of the ignorant.

            Fortunately, there are some fantastic sources of info on how to live a life that can help us to minimize the lies. The Bible is certainly one of the best of those sources. The Bible is always true – and is also clear about the single best way how to help us avoid believing lies –

It is made clear in verses like Proverbs 11:14

     "Where there is no guidance the people fall, but in abundance of counselors there is victory."

Decisions, Guiding Principles OfBeing A LeaderBad FriendsCounselorsCounselBad HabitsadvisersCounselingBad CounselAdvice, Bad Human AdviceCommitteesWise CouncelOr this one in Proverbs 27:9

CosmeticsHeart, HumanFragrancePer     "Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man's counsel is sweet to his friend."

     Along with many others, these verses make at least two things crystal clear:

           1) All of us have believed and still believe lies we have been told as truths and need to seek trustworthy sources of info.

           2) All of us need people we can trust to help us along the way - people we know aren’t setting their clocks by untested sources.

    

           We all need people who understand the difference between knowledge and wisdom in our lives. We need friends and family, who have been through some of the same fires we face, to give us sound advice - and when they do we need to listen and see if it reveals any lies about ourselves we may believe. Remember - wise counsel can help to protect us from falling victim to those lies we hear and are inclined to believe.

            Who are you setting your clocks by today? Are you setting your clocks by those God has placed in your life to help you set them, or are you setting your clock by the pretty old clock in the jewelers window?