The “land of the free and home of the brave” has developed an attitude that is both tragic and has serious repercussions as well. The nation whose motto has been “In God We Trust” has added a new one – “In Others We Don’t”.The Associated Press out of Washington recently reported the following. “You can take our word for it. Americans don't trust each other anymore. We're not talking about the loss of faith in big institutions such as the government, the church or Wall Street, which fluctuates with events. For four decades, a gut-level ingredient of democracy - trust in the other fellow - has been quietly draining away. These days, only one-third of Americans say most people can be trusted. Half felt that way in 1972, when the General Social Survey first asked the question. Forty years later, a record high of nearly two-thirds say ‘you can’t be too careful’ in dealing with people.” That is sad – and dangerous!
The above statement clearly reveals a dwindling trust factor of the nation’s citizens for each other. And yet it seems rather obvious that trust levels for the major institutions are not exactly flourishing either. The inappropriate activities by many top financial organizations have been beyond troubling. Faith in a seriously divided Congress has been waning for a long time and certainly not being helped by the ongoing health care fiasco! Also, ongoing scandals concerning some major church denominations have tarnished the church’s overall ability to be seen as trustworthy.
Forging trust in any given sphere is something that must be earned. The institutions just spoken of have never been perfect nor ever will be. But interestingly, one of them does represent the only perfect truth that exists and always has. It is the church of the living God. Its eternal leader is God in the flesh – Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:23, speaking of Him, says, “Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.” This is highly relevant to the subject because of the biblical description of Christ as the embodiment of all truth seen here. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) This makes Him alone always safe to trust.
The term “trust” is common in God’s word. It sometimes reveals what not to trust. A fine example would be Psalm 146:3. “Do not put your trust in princes, Nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.” But there remains one key positive-based area of trust that far outweighs all others because of its eternal implications. It is summed up in 1 Timothy 4:10. “Because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.” This speaks to a miraculous forgiveness and saving faith in Christ – something that occurs when He is trusted fully for redemption and a heavenly future.
But after trusting Him for that great inner change of heart, He must then also be trusted about life’s priorities and circumstances. Proverbs 3:5-6 explains it like this. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” This profound passage explains both what to do and the great benefits of doing so.
The trust factor may well be more of a growing fear factor in modern-day America. If so, it is primarily because so many no longer know, and live fully, for the author and champion of ultimate truth. But if there are those who can and should still be taken at their word, it would be those who live in and through the living truth – Jesus Christ. These should always be the most reliable having fully embraced the sacred truths seen in John 8:32 and Ephesians 4:25:
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
“Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor.’”
Ultimate trust and truth are found in God alone. They are priceless and essential ingredients. Without them, culture degenerates into chaos and confusion, and salvation becomes little more than conjecture. With them, this life goes far smoother, and the next life becomes a blessed hope and confident reality!
Bill Breckenridge
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