Why do we tell lies? -Well I asked around and read some surveys and conducted a few little informal questionairs of my own and put the top five answers on the board! No, sorry this isn’t family feud although lies are usually at the heart of those as well. Leaving out the habitual and compulsive liars who have mental issues. It seems almost all lies are told for one of two reasons:
- protection
- glorification.
Our lies are usually trying to protect someone or something or we are trying to make someone or something way better than it actually is. In both of these reason we find that lies, lie. Being dishonest is actually counterproductive to the purpose of the lie. Here is what I mean.
Protection
We think we will protect ourselves from getting into trouble or deeper trouble or we will protect someone’s feelings, or we will protect our status or position. There is a secret that the bible reveals about this protection. It is a lie itself. The lie about lies is that they do not protect us but instead make us slaves to them. They hold us captive to them. And whats worse they lead to more sin (John 8:44). And whats even worse than that is they serve the devils plans and not God’s (2Tim2:26). We must, instead, trust in God for our protection and that in his truth is true freedom.
“O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!” – Walter Scott
Glorification
When we exaggeration to make ourselves (or anything) better or bigger than it actually is then we only bring scorn and ridicule to the ourselves and the object. We end up not glorifying at all but denigrating whatever it is (Pro 26:28). True glorification on the other hand is wonderful. Glory belongs to God and God alone but through his grace he has made a way for us to share in it. It is a blessing of our praise that we are glorified by his glory (2thes2:14) because He is in us and we in Him.
So we hold ourselves and each other accountable to the Truth in love to live openly in liberty of Jesus Christ.
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man:how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever:but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:31-36
Free indeed!
Simple Steps
First, spend some time praying that the Lord will reveal to you the lies that you are captive to.
Next, as He reveals them then expose each lie to God’s eternal unshakable truths.
Rinse and Repeat.
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