If there is a word that I am tired of hearing it is the word “lying”. Who lied and how much they lied has occupied the headlines. It is a lead story tonight on my computer. Yes, the Ten Commandments still forbid lying. Exodus 20:16 (NIV) “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.” Down with lying! “Little white lies” or even “fibs”; let us be people of truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The transparent truth is demanded in every situation.
I have stood by the bed of terminally ill people and heard their families lie to them about surviving their sickness. The reason given is that the truth would be depressing. Not so! Jesus said “The truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NIV) In the case of the dying, it would free families to resolve remaining family conflicts. In the case of the living, it would remove pretense in relationships, allowing each to take off his mask.
So much energy is expended in covering up lies. Christians should be examples of those committed to telling the truth. Christ is our example. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” (1 Peter 2:22 NIV) Think on this challenge from Ephesians 4:15 “Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
Growing in Christlikeness means growing in the truth. Imagine a reputation of being totally truthful. As a parent and pastor, I agree with the Apostle John in II John 1:2 (NIV) “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” What a compliment!
Christians: tell the truth. It may hurt for a while, but it has the stuff of healing. If you lie, the temporary relief of the lie betrays that you have sown a cancer. If you believe that Jesus is the true Savior, don’t lie to your friend or your enemy. Its just wrong!
“O God, give us a hunger for truth. Make us sick every time a lie
lands on our tongue. Cleanse our minds and our mouths. Amen”
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