It’s getting more difficult to know what’s real.

“Deep fakes” are a growing genre of videos. They make it look like someone is saying or doing something, but it’s all fabricated. A tech wizard has digitally recreated someone’s voice or body movements. 

When it comes to the news, we often wonder what parts of the story are being left out. And who decides what gets edited or pulled from our social media feeds?

Plus, online scammers are on the rise (as you all know). Oh, and there’s one of the biggest stories of the past year: the rise of artificial intelligence. ‘Did that student really write that essay? Did that employee really compose that third quarter report?’

I remember speaking to a group of high schoolers. One of them asked: How do we know what’s real? I said that when it comes to the online world, it’s simply difficult to know.

But even though it can all be very unsettling and uncertain, we can still centre ourselves on something—or, rather, Someone—who is trustworthy and true.

God is real. And our response to God is real. 

Both of these realities are captured in Psalm 86:10-11: “For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”

The world can be an unsettling and uncertain place, especially when it comes to what we see and experience online.

So, what is real? 

Keep it big picture. God is real. And your response to God is real.

Faithfulness.
An undivided heart.
Salt.
Light.
Grace.
Truth.
Holiness.
Love.

“For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”

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Notes:

–Bible Study Podcast: “The Rebellion, Man of Lawlessness, and Return of Christ (Growing Deeper with 2 Thessalonians 2.” Wow, big stuff. Click here, or tune in to The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan wherever you subscribe to podcasts.

–Bible quotes are from the NIV.