Factchecking
The twenty-first century has brought a word to our attention, factchecking. It is not a new word; it just has never seen this much usage before. The goal of factchecking is to find the truth. You may be surprised to know the New Testament had at least one factchecker, the disciple Thomas.
Jesus told his disciples He was going away. The disciples likely registered displeasure at these words. Jesus continued, “You know the way to the place where I am going.” By these words, Jesus likely meant as believers the disciples would one day follow Him into heaven.
Thomas asked for more instructions. “We don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Then again following the resurrection, Thomas could not believe until he checked the facts, “I will not believe until I see the scars in Jesus’ hands and feet.” Thomas’s factchecking earned him the name “doubting Thomas.”
On our way home from Kentucky, we missed our highway exit and got lost. We parked on the roadside to check our map. A lady, presumably a local, came over to help us. “Are you lost?” she asked.
“Yes, we are going to Kirksville, Missouri; but we missed our exit. Now we do not know which way to go.”
“Let me see your map,” she said; then she joined us in the search. It did not take long for us to realize she had no earthly idea how to direct us.
This story illustrates important truths. First, be careful where you get your advice. God alone knows where we would have gone if we had followed the lady’s advice. No matter where you get your advice, do not be afraid to check it out. Jesus welcomed Thomas’s factchecking. “Thomas, ‘I am the way.’” Then later when Thomas insisted on proof of the resurrection, “Except I see His scarred hands and feet, I will not believe.” Jesus showed Thomas His scarred hands and side.
Jesus not only said, “I am the way.” He also said, “I am the truth.” Truth will always survive an honest factcheck. The Bible is the place to check on your eternal queries. It is truth and will never lead you astray. Check it out!
