July 3, 2020 – Click here to listen
Mark Twain once stated, “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” I suppose the 1800’s weren’t much different than today where lies travel faster than a speeding bullet.
I’ve always detested liars, especially those in this age where society relies heavily on the media and politics. We cannot even get the truth about a death wielding plague. I’m reminded daily of another of Mark Twain’s caustic bits of wisdom each time I read the news, Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.”
I cannot envision what is going through the minds of liars. Throughout my life I have been blessed or cursed by having a near photographic memory, especially for those conversations that are important to me. It is sad to hear one thing from someone about a subject only to hear it change dramatically the next time it is brought up. If folks would just tell the truth they won’t have to try and remember whatever lie they spewed.
The Bible reveals that Satan is the “Father of all lies, John 8:44 – “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Well at least we know from whence it comes.
I taught my sons to tell the truth from early childhood. It was far better to face whatever mischief that they might have wandered into than me had I caught them in a lie. It is a lesson they learned well, and I consider it one of the most poignant lessons in life that I ever passed on to them.
I cannot take credit for this line of thinking it came from my father. There was not much I admired about my father while growing up, but one thing sure, he had a reputation as being totally honest and I respected him for that. I seriously doubt if he would had lied even if his very life depended upon it.
I read a response to a question posed to Billy Graham about lying and he hit this issue squarely on the Jaw.
Dear Dr. Graham: Growing up I was taught that lying was bad, unacceptable, and would lead to destruction. Today it seems that our culture accepts lies, and there’s no need for shame or guilt. Why is this?
Dear B.L.: As sin has progressed and gained momentum, mankind seems to have lost the ability to be shocked. Behavior that was once considered abominable is now acceptable. There are many new sinners today, but there aren’t any new sins, just the old ones clothed in different rags. Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44) and has been lying from the beginning.
He was behind each of the major crises of faith and obedience down through the centuries. And he still deceives gullible men and women of every age. An old Scottish clergyman said the devil has two lies that he uses at two different stages. Before we commit a sin, he tells us that one little sin doesn’t matter — “no one will know.” The second lie is that after we’ve sinned, he tells us we’re hopeless.
Truth is we have all fallen, individually and collectively, and God does not consider this a trifling matter. Judgment hangs over the whole human race because of rebellion and disobedience.
God’s Word says, “Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12). The Good News is because Jesus Christ came and died on the cross and rose from the dead, we are not in a hopeless position. We can be reconciled to God and put back in right relationship with Him by accepting His provision for sin: His Son, Jesus Christ.
The next time you see the lies pouring out of the media, politicians or whomever just realize that it emanates from Satan, but it is not hopeless. Jesus can reconcile liars if they will only accept His provision for sin.
Genesis 3:4
But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.
Have a great weekend and go to church this Sunday!