ALWAYS CHECK YOUR SOURCES! That’s a lesson I was reminded of recently. You see, I received an email with a really great story. In fact, it was so moving that I had pretty much decided to use it in an upcoming message. I told the person who sent it how much I appreciated it and his reply was, “Uh, look, before you share it you might want to check out snopes.com first.” I replied, “You mean it’s an urban legend and not really true?” “No, not exactly, it’s partly true. You might say that it has been embellished a bit," he answered.

I did check it out and sure enough, it was partly bogus. I don’t know about you but I don’t like half-truths, so I decided to scuttle it. Too bad too, because it was a great story even if someone made up parts of it! The moral: Beware of “electronic rumors.” I can’t believe how some folks have nothing better to do with their time than create misinformation and pass it on to millions via the net.

Speaking of rumors, back in March of 2008, Mart De Hann related the following in Our Daily Bread : “In April 2006, a stuntman tried to jump from the top of the Empire State Building. At the last minute, authorities restrained him and charged him with reckless endangerment. After a judge had looked carefully at all the facts, he dismissed the charges, noting that the accused had taken steps to ensure the safety of others. With a parachute strapped to his back, Jeb Corliss had safely made 3,000 previous jumps, including leaps from the 1,483-foot Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the Eiffel Tower.

As extreme as Corliss’ sport is, it is safer than the kind of leap that almost took place in Joshua 22. Israel had just engaged in a 7-year conquest of Canaan. Suddenly, an alarming rumor raised the possibility of civil war. Word spread that the families who settled east of the Jordan River had built an idolatrous altar (v.10). A national catastrophe was averted that day, only because someone took time to investigate the facts and listen to both sides of the issue (vv.16-29). A terrible, costly misunderstanding was avoided. The wisdom of God was honored (v.31). Our loving Lord taught His people that the cost of listening is not nearly as great as the cost of jumping to wrong conclusions.”

Lest judgment should be based on wrong conclusion,
Distinguish right from vain and carnal pleading;
The world is rife with error and confusion;
Rely alone on God the Spirit’s leading. —Mollon

Jumping to wrong conclusions is one of the greatest of all dangers.