It is an age-old tactic: take your most prominent rival and sling a little mud. The goal is not to outright defeat your opponent, but rather to cast doubt on their product or abilities. A few weeks ago, the Pepsi Company decided to throw some doubt on the Coca-Cola Company. During a Super Bowl ad, Pepsi capitalized on using a polar bear—Coke’s long-time mascot—to cast doubt on whose product is truly the best.
The idea is simple: make people question what they are sure of. Biblically speaking, this tactic is as old as humanity itself; the crafty serpent in Genesis has humans question whether God is trustworthy. This is the heart of all disbelief: can I trust what God tells me? The serpent doesn’t have to win; he only needs to cast doubt. We are all aware of the ninth commandment: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16).
This commandment means more than simply “Don’t lie,” although that is a valid conclusion. At its deepest level, it calls us to actively guard our neighbor’s good name and reputation, to imagine them with better intentions.
We live in an age of doubt and insecurity. Most Americans don’t trust mass media, the government, their neighbors, or— with the advent of AI—even their own eyes. In the midst of all this, we must ask: Who or what do you trust? The Bible is clear—there is only One we can truly rely on.
· Psalm 9:10 “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
· Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
· Psalm 31:14 “But I trust in you, O LORD; I say, ‘You are my God.”
· Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”
· Psalm 71:5 “For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth.”
· Psalm 115:11 “You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield.”
· Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.”
God is the immovable foundation, the bedrock of our lives. We can place all of our trust in Him. It may seem contrary to our modern sensibilities, but there is nothing more proven than God’s character. He was, and is, and always will be. We can place our trust in Him regardless of our present circumstances.
Perhaps we are justified in doubting those around us—or even our senses—whether it is our eyes or our taste buds. We can easily be misled. Maybe this is why doubt and skepticism run rampant in our culture and lives. Some advertising agencies use this to their advantage; it must be an effective strategy. But for Christians, we are routinely reminded that there is only one we can trust—one who never fails or forsakes us. Don’t doubt Him.