I don’t know about you, but it is such a relief that Election Tuesday, 2025 is now over, regardless of what candidate you were hoping to win, or what proposition you were hoping to pass or fail. For those of us here in California, it was all about Proposition 50, and for those who were following the ads on TV or the ones received in the mail, it was about redistricting congressional seats. Both republicans and democrats claimed that it was an attempt by the other party to gain congressional seats. Now, I’m certainly not a political strategist, but I said to myself, “Someone’s got to be lying!”
Of course, lying is not new to politics, but it was new to Adam and Eve as they found themselves in the Garden of Eden. God told them that they could eat from any tree in the garden, but not from the tree in the center of the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Satan, the deceiver, told them that they could not eat from any tree in the garden, not just the tree in the middle of the Garden. Furthermore, God told them that they would die (spiritually) if they ate from the tree in the middle of the Garden, but once again, Satan told them that they would not die, but that they would become wise, like God. Someone had to be lying! Was it God or Satan? Sadly, Adam and Eve took the bait, so to speak, and believed Satan’s lies instead of God’s words.
God knew the danger of lying, and prohibitions against lying are found throughout the Old and New Testaments. Each of us can be easily swayed by the temptations that come our way, and that’s why God’s Word continually reminds us of the importance of truth-telling, and provides us with clear guidelines about honesty, integrity, and truthfulness.
But first, let’s be clear that God hates dishonesty and lying. King Solomon in the Book of Proverbs provides several verses warning us against lying:
“There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood . . .” (Proverbs 6:16-17).
“The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy” (Proverbs 12:22).
“An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies” (Proverbs 14:5).
“A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish (Proverbs 19:9).
“A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin” (Proverbs 26:28).
Because the God of the Bible is the God of truth, it’s no wonder that He despises lying and “lying lips.” And we should also hate what God hates. In addition, lying negatively impacts all of our relationships, whether between individuals, couples, and families, or within social groups and even in churches. The Apostle Paul exhorts all believers to,
“. . . put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25).
“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices” (Colossians 3:9).
Friends, let’s understand that truth is a fundamental character trait of those who profess Christ. We have all encountered situations where our honesty is tested, and yet the Bible teaches us that truth should be the foundation of our character and actions. We should all be aware that when we embody truthfulness, we are actually reflecting God’s nature.
Relationships are foundational to our walk with Christ. Honesty forms the bedrock of all our relationships, and when we are truthful with others, we create an environment where trust and safety can thrive. And when we are transparent and truthful with others, we actually honor each other through honest communication.
For a moment, I’d like us to take a closer look at ourselves. Let’s be honest, we have all lied at one time or another. Like Adam and Eve after they realized the impact of their sin, they tried to hide from God out of embarrassment and shame. And so it is with each of us, trying to cover up our sin has a profound effect on our inner peace and relationship with God. We need to take note of the harm that we do to ourselves when we choose to lie. I’m reminded of the words of the Apostle Peter when he said,
“For whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech” (1 Peter 3:10).
We all face challenges when facing the decision to tell the truth or to lie, but the good news is that we can actually choose to pursue truth by the power of God’s Spirit within us. We need to confront our tendencies to cover up the truth with lies and cultivate truthfulness instead. Relying on God’s strength, we can overcome the temptation to deceive others and embody the truth in all we say and do.
Let’s remember that the Holy Spirit is our helper who guides us away from deception and towards a life that embraces authenticity and honors others by telling the truth. Whenever you are tempted to “adjust” or “twist” the truth by lying, I pray that you will simply tell the truth.
God bless you all.
