S142P2 – The fruit of falsehood: spiritual decay
Pro. 19:9
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.
Lies are about one thing: deception. We come up with many different reasons why we feel as if we must tell a lie or withhold the truth in any given circumstance, but this is subterfuge. I would wager that everyone in life has faced or will be faced with deciding whether to lie or withhold the complete truth to protect a dear one from punishment we think is unnecessary. The purpose may be noble, but it does not change the method. We might even be challenged to prove our devotion or faithfulness by being willing to lie for someone. The irony of practicing deceit for the purpose of showing our support of a loved one is that it requires us to defy the God we love.
The approach of determining which lies are not that bad and which are acceptable is the kind of reasoning that leads us to brand some deceit as simply little white lies. We justify deceit either by our misplaced moral motives or by its end result. Yet, the word of God does not lead us to that analysis. It draws a clear line in the sand between that which is true and that which is false. It does not allow us to consider motive or result. The clear reason for this is that deception comes not from God but from the enemy. It would be senseless to think that the Lord would take the sin that originated in the Garden to corrput the world and redeem it as a virtue of some kind. Things just do not work that way in God’s kingdom. Although sin can be forgiven, it cannot be redeemed.
Lies breed punishment because of the one who judges that act. Perhaps the lie will keep us from the world’s penalties, but there is a spiritual component to this as well. That is why repentance from living a life of deceit is no less critical than repentance from any other sinful lifestyle. Bearing false witness and spreading deceit brings punishment and spritual decay. It effects more than the moment the lie is spoken or the circumstances surrounding it. The spiritual repercussions are real and damaging. Father, help us to remember the truth about deceit, to run from lies and have the wisdom and courage to always tell the truth.