The statement “Trust, but verify” did not originate with U.S. President Ronald Reagan but became well known to many because of his use of the phrase in the context of nuclear disarmament discussions with the Soviet Union during his presidency. It is a statement that reflects a willingness to accept what is said or presented and the need to act responsibly in verifying the details of what is presented. This is sound advice and may be of particular importance depending on who is presenting the information.
This approach to what we hear or read is particularly important for anyone seeking spiritual truth. There are so many voices in the world around us, all of them vying for our attention, focus, and acceptance. There are many who claim to be purveyors of absolute truth and many others who would unequivocally proclaim that there is no absolute truth. And they are absolutely certain of it! The adage, “trust, but verify,” is important as we try to discern God’s voice from all the other voices surrounding us.
The apostle Paul commended the Berean Christians for this very thing. They were not willing to blindly accept whatever some teacher or philosopher said. Instead, they ran all teaching through the filter of what they knew as absolute truth, the Word of God. They made sure that what was being taught was consistent with the scriptures they had available to them. If the teaching was inconsistent with the Scripture, they did not accept it as God’s truth. They did not immediately dismiss new teaching, but they verified it by what they knew was certain.
This is precisely what our approach should be. We have a source of eternal truth, and it must be that against which we measure everything else. Paul told the Galatian believers that if he or even an angel preached a different Gospel than what they had received, to not only not believe the teaching but that the one who proclaimed it should be accursed. Everything must be measured against the Word of God and either verified by it or proven false by it.
Psalm 119 gives us great insight into the Word of God. In it, we read that the Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. It makes us wiser than our enemies, gives us more insight than our teachers, and helps us understand more than those who have lived long and experienced much. God’s Word is what allows us to avoid sin, and it provides direction and instruction for our lives.
As we consider the value of the Bible, God’s eternal, unchanging truth, and the importance of it being our standard to verify the validity of other things, it makes sense to make sure we are well acquainted with the Bible. We should seek to incorporate it into our minds, hearts, and lives in every way we can. We should make sure we hear it proclaimed, read it, studies it, memorizes it, and meditate on it. The better we know God’s Word, the better we can “trust, but verify!”
As Lent commences on Ash Wednesday, we are entering a time of introspection and prayer leading to Easter. Let us reflect on the significance of death preceding resurrection, urging readers to embrace a daily practice of surrendering self in preparation for our spiritual transformation.