Proverbs 12:22. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight.
Lying has been going on since the beginning of time. Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden because they were lied to by the Devil (the serpent). One lie turned the whole world upside down, didn’t it? Maybe that’s why lying is an abomination to God. The word abomination means that it is disgusting or repulsive to him. God detests lying. In the book of Revelation, it warns us that God will shut out the liar from the Kingdom of God.
Revelation 22:15. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Yet we tend to think that lying is no big deal. We all tell little lies all the time. But those lies chip away at love and trust. They destroy our relationships. What would happen if you only told lies or half-truths to your family, your friends, your neighbors? Or what if others lied to you all the time? And, worse yet, what if God lied to you? Where would any of us be without being able to trust God or others?
As image bearers of God, we are meant to be truth tellers. God IS truth. God IS faithful. God literally cannot lie (Heb. 6:18). Yet, obviously, the image of God in us has been corrupted by sin and self-promotion. Why do we lie? Usually we lie to cover our shame and inferiority. To make ourselves look good to others. But sin runs so deep in us that even when we tell the truth it is often for the same selfish reasons. We tell the truth because a “good” person would never lie. And we are “good” people, aren’t we? We tell the truth so that we can feel good about how truthful we are. Ironically, this is one of our greatest self-deceptions.
Union with Christ allows us to faithfully speak the truth for all the right reasons. Not only should the Christian speak truth with everyone, they can speak truth with everyone. Why? Because the fear of self-incrimination is removed by the truth of the gospel. The cross of Christ has already spoken the two greatest truths into our hearts.
Truth 1: You are more wicked than you ever imagined. So what are you trying to cover up? Hasn’t the cross revealed what a scoundrel you are?
Truth 2: You are more loved than you ever dared to hope. So why are you trying to cover up? God, who knows the truth about you, is going to love you no matter what.
Now, in Christ, you can speak the truth and you can do it from a heart of faith, not self-righteousness. Now we can act faithfully with all others, knowing that we have been truthful with ourselves and others about our own struggles and that we have built a bridge of honesty that speaks the truth in love, connecting our hearts to the hearts of our fellow man.
You: Are you a truth teller? Why do you tell the truth (be honest)?
You in Christ: Can you see how the two truths of the gospel can work in you to make you truthful both with yourself and others?
Christ in you: Are there any lies that you have been telling that you need to make right? How can Christ’s love and truth in your heart help you be truthful moving forward?
Pray: Father, you are truth. Your Truth lives in me. Keep me from lying lips and cause my heart to trust the gospel enough to live faithfully with others. Amen.
To Live is Christ 