Stink to high heaven

I suspect that you are like me in at least one respect. I hate being lied to more than just about anything. Guess who else hates it and in fact considers it to be an *abomination*. Yep, you are right, none other than God Himself.

Prov 6:16-19
“There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,
A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.”

We all know what lying is, Webster’s Dictionary defines it as, “making a statement that one knows is false, especially with the intent to deceive. To give a false impression or action or false statement, especially with the intent to deceive. To make a false statement in order to evade the truth. The invention of a false story or excuse in order to deceive”.

It is not surprising to find that a sin that is “abominable” to God and is “hated” by Him orginated with satan, the great deceiver. The Bible teaches that he is the “Father of all lies”. When we tell a lie we should understand where it comes from and that it is evil. I read statistics online that indicate that 75% of children lie to their parents.

Hmmm This is a bold statement about how we are rearing our children is it not? I was not the perfect father by any stretch, but I could not have stressed telling the truth more to my children from the time they were able to understand speech, until they became grown men and left my household.

The Bible teaches us that if we teach our children biblical things that they will not depart from them when they grow old. Nothing could be truer and if they have lied to me I am not aware of it. In fact I have seen them tell the truth even when they knew for sure there was going to be a very unpleasant consequence from a “hopping mad” dad for confessing to what they had done. (Perhaps they did this, because if I caught them in a lie too, that they knew a worse consequence would quickly and firmly befall them, but I like to think it was because they had it drilled into their young heads since early childhood that lying is a sin and is definitely wrong. Also that lying *always* makes a situation worse.)

If you have small children, I strongly urge you to make it a point early on to train them up to always be truthful. I admire that trait as much as anything about a person. I think we all do. My father and I have had our problems through the years, but I can tell you unequivocally that he is a “man of his word” and he is known for being totally honest throughout his community. I am very proud of him in this regard, and to know that my father is totally *Honest* is priceless to me. I hope my children think the same of me.

Too often we are just too quick or rash with our mouth. Perhaps one who is “hasty in word or impulsive in thought” doesn’t take enough time to think about what they are saying. The Bible does offer some advice in this area.

Prov 10:19
19 When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

I think this comes to bear especially when making senseless vows or commitments. Usually it is a result of talking too much and rattling on and on without much thought.

Hmmm If we simply let our yes be a yes and our no be a no then lying would be an impossibility. Alas this is one of satan’s best methods of destroying someone’s character. If someone lies to you just one time, what do you think happens the next time they tell you something? We all will quite naturally wonder if we are being lied to again; it is unavoidable.

Don’t lie and ruin your reputation as an honest person. That reputation will become known far and wide and follow you to the grave. Vow to always tell the truth and if you have an accident. Then just like a dirty diaper, immediately clean up the mess and correct your mistake before it stinks to high heaven, ascending all of the way to the very throne of almighty God.

John 8:43-47
Why do you not understand my speech? even because you cannot hear my word.
You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do.
He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him.
When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.