The Truth about the Truth...
If we're brutally honest, we'd have to admit that sometimes the truth seems inadequate to do what we need done. We want our bosses to like us, so we flatter. We want our friends to admire us, so we exaggerate. We want people to respect us, so we live in houses we can't afford and charge bills we can't pay. Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property and gave a portion of the money to the church. But they lied, claiming the land sold for the amount of money they gave (Ac. 5). Their sin was not in holding back some money for themselves; it was in misrepresenting the truth. And their deceit resulted in their deaths. You say, "I'm glad God doesn't strike people dead today for lying." Don't be so sure. Lying results in the death of (1).
A marriage. Falsehoods are termites in the trunk of the family tree. (2).
A conscience. The tragedy of the second lie is that it's always easier to tell than the first. (3).
A career. Just ask the employee who got fired for embezzlement. (4).
Faith. Think: How can God use us if we won't tell the truth? Every football team has a player assigned to carry the play from the coach to the huddle. But what if the player doesn't tell the truth? What if the coach calls for a pass but the player says the coach calls for a run? The coach won't call on him very long. God says if you are honest in small things He will trust you with greater things (Mt. 25:21). So, can God trust you?
This devotion really spoke to me today. I was dumbfounded recently to watch a show called, Pretty Little Liars on Family TV! The shock of seeing two teenage girls start making out with each other was surprising enough and then to see that the premise of the show is just as the title, get what you want from lying. This is being promoted so blatantly now and no one seems to raise a brow to what the long-term message is...I find this very scary. Daily, I have to stay in check with the Truth. We have to be on guard as Christians because the devil, the master deceiver certainly doesn't want us to live lives of integrity....be on guard and be genuine in
Christ.
