Thou Shalt Not Lie

Lying is misleading, destructive, and destroys trust faster than anything else. But the worst form of lying is lying to yourself. Behind it is a spirit of self-deceit, or knowingly pandering to the group-think of our day. But to lie against your own conscience is self abuse. You lose respect for yourself… you wonder if you can even trust your own fickle heart, and where your own discernment once stood strong and dependable for all those in your circle, you are now nothing but water, taking the shape of whatever conformity the culture dictates to you. Your dependents lose their ability to go to you for the solid truth. You’ve traded in your “love of the Truth” for the “praise of man.” This is a wrecking ball in our families and society. 

Even “note worthy” newscasters will refer to a transgender mass murderer as a “her” as to not offend (even after death). STOP the lying. The Truth is not fluid. Gender is not fluid. Life is not cheap and disposable. Babies and the elderly are not hindrances to our success, they are a gift from God. Marriage is still between a man and a woman for the building of homes filled with love and stability, and families that are designed by God, one unit, united in Truth for eternity. And God is still God, sovereign over all, whether society believes it or not. 

People can accuse Truth of causing offense, and they are right, Jesus said, “Do you think I have come to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division” (Luke 12:51). Truth divides, but this division is good and necessary. Do you want cancer cells among the healthy cells? Do you want a scant teaspoon of cyanide in the cake? Separating evil from Truth is essential. 

You know what also unifies? The Truth. People that submit to God and follow Him are like “trees planted by the river of life, bearing much fruit,” and this fruit is eaten by their family and friends. Their families are raised with the “Firm Foundation” of faith in God over man, character over popularity, love over lust, and a life lived that purposes to spread Truth in order that others might live whole and healed, redeemed and restored. Truth unifies! 

If the world hates you because you love the Truth, and you refuse to lie to yourself to appease our culture… you’re in great company. They hated Jesus, too. Take heed to the warning in Revelation 21:8…  “all liars will be consigned to the lake of fire.” This is serious! It is better to warn people with “offensive” Truth and see them come to Jesus and Heaven, then lie them into hell.

(Devotional by Cheryl Hall-Laos)