Rejoice In The Truth
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
There are some who rejoice in iniquity. Indeed, they prefer evil to goodness and lying to truth. Maurice Williams who is 24 years old is an example. Williams was brought before a judge in Indiana and to the judge he claimed that his name was not Williams. However, the name “Williams” is tattooed on his back. Williams told the judge in response that, “I can’t see what’s on my back. If there’s some tattoos on my back, somebody’s been bothering me when I’m asleep.” The judge apparently felt the young man was lying because he charged him with perjury.
In everyday life, we encounter so many people who will tell you a lie even if the truth is tattooed on their body. How can a person so hardened to what is right and good ever come to know the Lord Jesus as their Savior? Only through the grace of God. However, it must be much harder for a person who has such a dim view of the truth to be saved. Why? Because Jesus is the embodiment of Truth. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). To some extent, telling a lie is a denial of Truth and Truth’s name is Jesus Christ. 1 John 2:22 says, “Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.”
We tend to put sins in a hierarchy with sins like murder and robbery being the highest and lying being one of the lowest. We speak of “little white lies” and of lying to avoid confrontations or hurting others. I grew up lying and after I was married, I would lie to avoid having arguments. However, Jeanie would always confront me when she found that I had told her a lie. Soon it became apparent that lying had some very unpleasant consequences.
After becoming a Christian the frequency of my lies have slowly decreased because not only did I have to answer to my wife but also to my Lord. The Holy Spirit living inside of me reminds me when I lie that I have sinned. It was very hard living with myself after lying until I confessed my sin to the Lord seeking His forgiveness.
Lying to many of us is such a little thing that the lies slip off our tongue with hardly a thought about it being a sin. James points out, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2:10).” Lying may feel like and seem to be of little consequence, however, the truth is that lying, whether a “little white lie” or a “whopper” that would win a liar’s contest, is still sin.
If you have a problem with lying, it is a problem and it is a sin. To stop you must admit/confess to yourself and to the Lord that you are a liar. Then, you will be able to receive the mercy of God and abide in Truth. The Lord will cleanse you of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) and remember your lies (sins)(Jeremiah 31:34) no more.
We can rejoice that Truth has a Name and His Name is Jesus Christ. If we have Jesus in our heart as Savior and Lord we will always rejoice in Truth (1 Corinthians 13:6).
(Lying is a sin whether it is a little white lie or a great big whopper.)