In a recent blog posting, we considered the question, “What is Truth?”
Today we shall consider the opposite of Truth. What is a lie?
To answer this question, we can look at the “subject matter expert.” Jesus identified satan as an expert liar.
“He [satan] was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
John 8:44
Some of us might admit to to “bending the truth” sometime. Most of us would not like to think of ourselves as liars. See how you do on this mini-test.
1. Have you ever told a “little white lie?” Something that was mostly true, but not completely.
2. Have you ever told something that was true, but left out a big part of the whole story? You did not tell the whole truth.
3. Have you ever told a lie for “a good cause?” Someone asks you if their dress makes them look fat. You definitely think it does. But you don’t want to hurt their feelings. So you say, “Oh no, it’s beautiful!”
4. Have you ever “technically” told the truth, but did so with the intent to deceive? Get a family member to go ring the doorbell and then tell the person you are talking to on the phone, “I’ve got to go. Someone is at the door.”
Now for the hard questions.
5. Have you ever lied to yourself? You told yourself what happened to you didn’t matter, but it did, very much. You told yourself you were not addicted to drugs, alcohol, food, bad relationships, but you were.
6. Have you ever told yourself that lying this one time would not be that big of a deal?
Is lying a big deal? Yes! Why?
When a person lies, they are acting against God Himself. God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit are One. They All are The TRUTH.
“Now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your Words are TRUTH.
2 Samuel 7:28
Jesus answered, “I am the way and The TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 14:6
“But when He, The Spirit of TRUTH comes, He will guide you into all the truth.”
John 16:13
If you were to take a survey and ask what sins would send someone to hell, you might get a variety of responses. But many would not list lying among them.
However, read the following chilling pronouncement.
“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and ALL LIARS —they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Revelation 21:8
That warning should bring us all to our knees. Lying is serious. It is addicting. One small lie leads to another, and before long, it has become a way of life.
The sad truth is when we lie, we may reach a point where we no longer recognize we are lying.
What can we do? We can begin with a sincere desire to know the One Who is The Truth.
We can ask God to reveal to us any times we have not been truthful. We can repent.
We can ask God to put a guard on our thoughts, so we can resist any future temptation to lie.
At least daily we can ask God, “Have I told Your Truth today?”
“Guide me in Your Truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior,
and my hope is in You all day long.”
Psalm 25:5
“You will know The Truth and The Truth will make you free.”
John 8:32
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in The Truth.”
3 John 1:4
