Speak the truth

Truth is of God, but lying is of the devil. God's children love the truth. Jesus prayed in their behalf: "Sanctify them in the truth; Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17). He promised them the Spirit of Truth who would lead them into all truth (John 16:13). The devil is "a liar, and the father of lies" (John 8:44). His children do as their father does. It is not proper for a Christian to tell lies and to do that which is wrong. In so doing we would blaspheme God, who desires truth in the innermost being (Ps. 51:8). Liars will not inherit eternal salvation. "Outside are... the murderers and idolators, and everyone who loves and practices lying" (Rev. 22:15).

Truth must be the prevailing factor in a Christian's life, be he a pastor, a politician or a business man. The human personality is an integrated whole that cannot be divided. Some theologians have supposed that as scientists they can criticize the Bible, but as believers they should adhere to it in some way. This type of double morality reminds one of the bishop?prince of old, who was known for his cruelty as a prince. A citizen once asked him: When the prince goes to hell where will the bishop go?

People tend to defend the things they have done and left undone in the sight of God. "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us" (1 John 1:8-10).

The most serious type of lying is spiritual deceit: A person is left to depend on his own righteousness, or if he has come to a knowledge of his sin, the grace of God is concealed from him.

Once, after listening to a sermon, an aged Christian spoke to the pastor and said: "You committed a grave sin. You concealed my brother's inheritance." The pastor had failed to preach about the man's "Brother", the Lord Jesus Christ, and about the inheritance which He left us when He died. When we use this inheritance or the forgiveness of sin to our advantage, we are God's children. We want to do His will in all matters. We are aware of our weaknesses, we confess our sins, but pray that He will strengthen us, so that we will not be hypocrites, but will travel the straight road of truth.