Scene: A glossy advert for a wonder-cure

Katy Emslie-Smith August 19, 2025 2 0

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Jeremiah 23: 23-29 (NIVUK)

23 ‘Am I only a God nearby,’
declares the Lord,
    ‘and not a God far away?
24 Who can hide in secret places
    so that I cannot see them?’
declares the Lord.
    ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’
declares the Lord.

25 ‘I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, “I had a dream! I had a dream!” 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?’ declares the Lord. 29 ‘Is not my word like fire,’ declares the Lord, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

Your emails are open on your computer and your screen is in sight. It displays a brightly coloured advert with rosy golden healthy looking people running along a shoreline reaping the benefits of subscribing to a miracle wonder substance which slows aging and takes years off your life, renewing vigour and energy and smoothly ironing out all of life’s problems. You hunch over in intense concentration as you sift through the information, fully enticed by the offer of tablets which promise the world. You are fully convinced, you press the tab to pay and then the penny drops – it’s a scam.  The tablets are made of cellulose with sugar coating. You have been sold an empty promise, an untruth.  Jump scene to your face showing disappointment, outrage, embarrassment at being taken in by people manipulating the truth to make you part with your money.

We live in a “post truth” age. Many voices claim our attention, some of which appropriate the name of God to modify our opinion and behaviour with messages that do nothing to honour God’s name and which are not in line with gospel values.

Jeremiah spoke into a historical context where many voiced messages and guidance claiming the authority of God and attaching his name to their words to enhance their personal power and recognition. In our post truth age, voices speak, multiplied many times by the power of the internet, to attract our attention with messages that show little of God’s character and which do not convey any motivation to live in the self-sacrificial frame set by Jesus. We are left wondering where truth lies and anxious about placing trust in falsehood.

In our times we do well to seek Jesus, through prayer, through the Bible’s words, through the company of faithful people and through loving service, in the arts, in sports, in our homes and workplaces. His promise stands, that in him we will discover Truth.

Prayer:

God, may fire of your Word burn the straw from the grain in our age of untruth, mistruth and post truth. Crack the hard rocks which block our access to the truth to be found in you.

Amen.