Even though conspiracy theories are nothing new, they certainly seem to have heightened during and following the Covid-19 pandemic. As is usually the case, most involve a group of nefarious elites pulling strings behind the scenes of world events. Epstein’s island, the World Economic Forum, the Great Reset, the Illuminati, chemtrails, flat-earth, and many more abound.

But here’s a question to seriously consider: what if it’s all true?

It does really matter whether or not you actually believe in one or more of them; I’m simply asking that for a moment we assume that there really is a group of elites who are plotting our harm. If that were the case, does the Bible have any hope and comfort for us in that regard? Yes, thankfully it does. Consider Psalm 119:23:

Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.

The word ‘princes’ could also be translated as rulers, leaders, or chiefs. Thus, the idea is the same as what we find in the various conspiracy theories: people in positions of power and authority plotting against us. Yet notice the psalmist’s reaction to the conspiring of the elites against him: he resolves to meditate upon God’s statutes, which is one of the many words that Psalm 119 uses to refer to the Scriptures.

Psalm 1 shows us the tremendous benefit of meditating upon God’s Word. The person who delights in meditating upon the law of the LORD is blessed and is looked upon with favor by the Most High. Whereas all the wicked will eventually be blown away like chaff in the wind, he is firmly rooted and fruitful like a tree beside a plentiful stream.

Then in Psalm 2 we find that all conspiracies against the LORD are in vain. In fact, Yahweh laughs at their futile efforts and commands them to submit to His Son, the King of kings, before He comes upon them in wrath.

Meditating on such truths reminds us that the LORD is still upon His throne, and He sets “apart the godly for himself” (Psalm 4:3). We can say with David, “in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me” (Psalm 56:11)? Or again, “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me” (Psalm 118:6-7).

Indeed, even though we may never for certain which conspiracies are real and which are fabrications, there is one scheme against us that is all too true: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). It is the demonic forces all around us that form the greatest threat, not the World Economic Forum or any other group of people. Indeed, Gabriel gave Daniel such a revelation whenever he notes in passing that the true prince of the kingdom of Persia was evidently not Cyrus (Daniel 10:13).

These spiritual rulers and authorities are a far greater threat. Flesh and blood elites can ultimately only harm our own physical bodies, whereas the cosmic powers seek nothing less than our eternal damnation alongside themselves. But we are not left without defense, for Paul exhorts us to put on the gospel of Christ like a soldier puts on his armor. Put on truth like a belt, righteousness like a breastplate, and the gospel of readiness like shoes. Let the hope of salvation guard your mind like a helmet, and ward off the enemy’s attacks by wielding faith like a shield. Notably, the only actual weapon is the sword, which Paul uses to describe God’s Word. Indeed, it was with this sword that our Lord beat back the temptations of Satan in the wilderness.

Should it surprise us that the demonic hosts desperately long to keep us from that sword, from meditating upon God’s Word? If demonic powers can be pulling the strings behind earthly rulers, perhaps the most plausible conspiracy is that the spiritual forces of darkness are using all of the different conspiracies and fearful news headlines to distract us from wielding the sword of the Spirit.

More important than stocking doomsday bunkers with food and ammunition, let the conspiring of princes and elites drive us to storing ever more of God’s Word in our hearts.