Proverbs 6:16-19. 16There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 19… a false witness who breathes out lies.
All the sin in the world began because of a lie. Do you remember what that lie was? The serpent lied to Eve and told her that she wouldn’t die if she disobeyed God and ate from the Tree of Knowledge, and we’ve all been telling lies ever since. Have you ever lied to stay out of trouble, or to get someone else in trouble? If you have then you have been a false witness.
What’s even worse is that Solomon is describing a person who has told so many lies that it’s as normal as breathing to him. Lies just sort of come out. Everything this person says is difficult to trust. Do you know this kind of person? Are you this kind of person?
Why is lying such a big deal to God? Why does he hate it so much? Because every lie we tell to someone turns them into an object to be used rather than a person to be loved and trusted. When we bear false witness we are using people for our own gain. We are manipulating them into doing what is only best for us. We are violating the imago dei.
God loves love, therefore, God hates lies. What about you? Of course I hate lies, you say. But why do you hate lying? Why have you chosen to generally be a truth teller instead of a liar?
Sometimes we hate lying as a means of boosting our pride and self-righteousness. We think things like, good Christians don’t lie so I will never lie because I want to be a good Christian. But can you hear the pride in this reasoning? Your truth telling is a way to prove to yourself that you are a “good Christian.” That’s not faith, it’s works. But what if we told the truth because of the fear of the Lord, because we trust in the Lord with our whole heart?
Let me ask, why do we lie in the first place? We lie because we fail to see God as good enough, and so we breathe out false witness to feel good about ourselves or to get what we think we need. We can also tell the truth for the same reasons – to feel good about ourselves and to get what we think we need. But this reasoning lacks faith in God and our union with Christ, failing to see him alone as enough.
In Christ, we have the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, living in us, guiding us into all truth. Not from a place of pride as above, but from a place of submission and humility. In Christ, we simply do not need to lie anymore to cover up, control, or feel better about ourselves. Christ has done all these things for us already. Christ has covered every sin, so we can stop blaming others. Christ has taken control of your life, so you can stop using lies to control others. Christ has placed his joy in your heart, so you can stop using lies about others to feel good about yourself.
To live is Christ means never needing to lie again. Why not? Because there is nothing left to lose and nothing left to gain when you have Christ in you, the living Truth setting you free.
You: How often do you lie? Is lying easy for you, like breathing?
You in Christ: Trust in Christ eliminates the need and desire to tell lies in order to gain control. Are you experiencing this change in your heart? Or do you only tell the truth to make yourself look good to others?
Christ in you: Is there any false witnessing that you’ve been doing that you need to clear up today?
Pray: Father, you are the truth! Help me to live in the truth of Christ in me, letting the Spirit of truth guide me away from false witness and into ever increasing faith in you. Amen.
To Live is Christ 