Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire

John 8:44 King James Version (KJV)

44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

As we navigate this tempestuous world we are increasingly aware of the elusiveness of Truth.

I watched a testimony this morning from Germany on "MenschGott" from a young woman who was delivered from a "Sucht" of Lying.

A "Sucht" in English is a compelling spirit. I always think languages don't exactly translate, but we can try to get the feeling of words. It conveys a sense of being driven, of compulsion, of addiction, of dependence, of lust, of besetting sin.

This woman was a pathological liar.

The story ends happily. She's delivered from this spirit by Christ Himself. Total transformation!

Truth.

"What is Truth?" asked Pilate of Jesus. We don't know the answer He gave, if given.

We know that Jesus declared Himself the way, the Truth, and the life. Jesus is the truth.

This is a key piece of information. We need it to survive and serve in this life.

Lying politicians are a given. We all know this. We never know who or what to believe from the mainstream media. 

I'll give you some helpful advice that has never failed me in my search for truth. NEVER FAILED ME----

If Jesus is the truth, and he is, whatever He says is truth, and anything that contradicts His truth is a LIE.

This shapes a worldview that can handle just about anything. Build your life on a worldview of trusting Jesus and you can't lose.

If people lie to your face and you believe them you are in the hands of a loving God who will use that lying evil for good in your life.

That's His promise.

This is a worldview that works. God takes care of you.

It's also a worldview that assumes most things are a lie, or partly a lie, EXCEPT the truth from God's word.

Hmmmm. 

Don't believe that statement without reservation---

Don't believe that news story without reservation---

Don't believe that book without reservation---

Don't believe that textbook without reservation---

Don't believe that friend---

Don't believe that one who is beloved----

You see, we are all sinners, and we all have a temptation to stretch the truth. We see things from our own perspective, for our own good (We are all selfish. If you don't believe that you are believing a lie!)

We can selectively share the truth, or part of the truth to our good.

It's really a lie.

I have a better half who likes to make sure whatever I'm saying is the absolute truth. His mother always said he had a hatred of gossip from the time he was a very young child. He's really commendable. 

He likes to re-say whatever I say, certainly in my best interest. Most of the time he just says it for me!

It really keeps me thinking! I'm constantly thinking about my words and whether or not they are true. It's a gift from God. I must tell the truth. I must not shade the truth. I must state exactly what I know to be the truth, and I must tell only that, no embellishment.

As a self-stated "artist" that can irk someone like me. Artists do see the world through rose-colored glasses. We can leave out the garbage dump in the foreground, the cemetery to the left...

We like the world to be only beautiful.

But that isn't the truth, and I acknowledge that to my truth-loving husband.

I can choose to admire all the good President Trump is doing to promote good things and choose to abhor the things Obama did without paying attention to the negative or positive each one represents too. Politics are so polarizing.

It's about truth. It's about what you WANT to believe, isn't it?

My truth is different from yours, right?

(Well I hope not, but it certainly appears to be so.)

That is where we MUST have an objective filter to find absolute truth. 

Enter Scripture. 

The Bible is either truth or not. It claims to be the Word of God, and God is truth. It's circular, and one must embrace all or nothing.

When you pick and choose what to believe you are placing yourself on the throne of your life and committing idolatry. The Bible is true, or it is not.

We can get into reams of arguments about the authority of Scripture, its origins, its veracity, its inerrancy. We can talk about manuscripts and councils, tradition and evidence. Believe me, I've looked into all of it.

I am content to believe that the Bible is God's Word. All of it. I'm content to trust the translations of Scripture (I do like the KJV) and believe the text as inspired. I'm willing to "argue" that the Holy Spirit speaks through Scripture to all things yesterday, today, and forever.

I trust the truths that God has shown me through His word. I trust the Holy Spirit to guide me in paths of righteousness for His name sake.

This helps me navigate the truth about life, this existence, the morals I must hold, AND it puts the searchlight on SIN in my heart and life.

Because God is holy, and He doesn't like sin ruling our temple, our bodies. He's going to point it out.

Gently, yes. But if you want to serve God you will eventually have to clean out the closets of your heart from immoral behavior. It's a process, but it's happening.

IF you think that God tolerates sin of any kind (and just open your Bible to Romans 1 for a pretty good list) you are believing a lie.

God is working on you to repent from sin.

So, when you have a Biblical worldview you can spot lies from a million miles away. It's just so clear. If you are duped by a "friend" or even a loved one who is trying to protect you from the truth, NOT a problem. God will see to it that the truth always comes out. I think this verse may apply here:

Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. Luke 12:3

I think there will be an ultimate truth filter that will sift out the lies. It's coming, and I look forward to it.

I think we all know this, if we trust in a Holy, perfect, truthful God.

The God who made everything, He made the world we see in six days. He said so. Truth, or not?

Truth.

OR else He IS A LIAR, LIAR....

I don't think so. I'm going with the God of truth.

He hasn't failed me yet, and He never will.