Chance (6 Mar 2022)
"The Search For Truth"


 
Hello John and Doves,
 
We are all familiar with Daniel 12:4.  The King Jame's translation is:  "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:  many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
 
That running too and fro always sounded a bit odd to me.  Like we didn't quite have the right translation ..or understanding of the Hebrew.
 
To and fro is an idiom meaning:  "back and forth; from one place to another; toward and away." 
To and fro - Idioms by The Free Dictionary
 
Many think this is a reference to an increase in technology.  Specifically, having to do with the speed of travel.  We've gone from walking, running, to trains, planes, automobiles, space ships, etc.  Others think it means searching anxiously for an understanding of the prophecies in the book of Daniel.  And some believe that these prophecies may not be fully understood until they take place.  I found yet another meaning for 'to and fro':  'unable to make up one's mind'.
 
To me, "many will run to and fro', 'many shall rush here and there', 'many will roam to and fro', 'many will go back and forth', I think of ' being told one thing and then another - going back and forth - not knowing what is true, what is half truth, what is a lie - that there would be so much misinformation out there during the time period Daniel was writing about; so many lies, so much deception, that people will be actively, anxiously seeking the truth from many different sources.  And not finding it.  Not knowing what to believe, what not to believe.  Leaving them unsettled and unfulfilled.  Going back and forth between, this is true, no this is true, no this is false, no this is.....
 
"To and fro" means someone is searching for something.  Looking in vain for something.
 
This could be an in vain search for the meaning of the prophecies in Daniel.  Or it could mean an in vain search for truth - knowledge is empty without truth in the knowledge.
 
People like to be able to hang on to something - to feel like this is trustworthy.  People do not like feeling that they don't know who to trust or what news source to trust....people expect to be told the truth - they want to be told the truth - especially by the media and news sources.  And when they are lied to they feel unsettled, anxious, betrayed, exposed, disrespected, etc.
 
At this link, I found a reference to John Walvoord (well known Christian theologian and pastor):  "Whether or not physical wandering and travel is involved, the implication is that attempts to understand the truth will require considerable effort." 
 
When I look at today's news, and look at how the American people have been lied to and manipulated over the last few years...I actually am questioning almost everything I see on TV news stations along with what I read in news articles concerning certain topics.  Even news from other countries, which I have used before, are suspect concerning certain topics.  Seems we have to dig to find the truth, and we shouldn't have to.  Google search is getting harder and harder to use.  Even other search engines are directing searches the way they want.
 
Americans were lied to about the Russian collusion of President Trump, Benghazi, Fast and Furious, Iraq's WMD, the mess in/withdrawal from Afghanistan, ISIS in Syria, the origin of Covid-19, the Covid-19 'vaccine' as safe and effective...the lies are endless.  The manipulation has been endless.
 
It's hard to know what is really going on in Ukraine, with Putin, with Biden.  I do know from history that if Biden and the MSM are saying something...there is a 99% chance it's a lie.  They've called 'wolf' way too often!!! 
 
It seems like so many people these days are in an anxious, sometimes frantic search to find the truth to any and all things going on around them.  People are extremely divided on their thoughts about the Ukraine situation.  About Covid.  About the Covid-19 'vaccine'.
 
I am seeing a lot of anxiety in people - trying to find the truth.  Searching frantically for something solid to believe in, to hang on to.  And I'm seeing a lot of 'going back and forth' - one day they believe this, the next day they believe that...unable to come to a truth they can hang on to and stand by. 
 
I am reminded of the emoji "hair on fire" stick figure running 'to and fro' in a vain attempt to find peace, security.
 
So, whatever is the meaning for this 'anxious search', this 'running to and fro' - I think Paul has very good words for us at this time:  
 
"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." ".... And the God of peace will be with you."  Philippians 4:8,9
 
Meditate on what you know is true, honest, just, pure, good, virtuous....and you will feel peace.  God will sort out the rest.  Only in God will we always find Truth.  Righteousness and Truth go hand in hand.  This is the spirit that God wants in us as human beings - we are to want Truth, to seek Truth - because we flourish in Truth - we find peace in Truth...without Truth we are left anxious, in despair, running to and fro.  Searching vainly in a world of unrighteousness and lies.
 
God is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Our spirit seeks our Creator.  
 
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
 
Maranatha!
 
Peace be with you!
 
Chance