Many individuals and cultures do not place much significance on speaking the truth. For such people, there is not much of a difference between the truth and the lies. It is a matter of convenience. The Bible has a different approach to truth and lies. Let us see what it has to speak to us.
– “16 “You shall not bear false witness [lies] against your neighbour.” – Exodus 20:16
– “1 “You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. 2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice.” – Exodus 23:1-2
– “20 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.” – Deuteronomy 5:20
– “7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.” – Psalms 101:7
– “16 These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbour; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;” – Zechariah 8:16
The God of the Bible place utmost importance on speaking the truth. Why is it so? Why does YAHWEH place such great significance on speaking the truth? Why does the LORD, put such great emphasis on speaking the truth? Why does the LORD wants us to be uncompromising? Here under are the reasons.
GOD IS THE SOURCE OF TRUTH
– “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – John 14:6
SATAN IS THE SOURCE OF LIES – “FATHER OF LIES”
– “44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” – John 8:44
WE AS CHRISTIANS, ARE COMMANDED TO WALK ON THE PATH OF TRUTH
– “9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds,” – Colossians 3:9
– “23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbour,” for we are members of one another.” – Ephesians 4:23-25
– “5…God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” – 1 John 1:5b-6
Dear brothers and sisters, as children of the Living God, may we truly and fully be obedient to all that our Redeemer is asking of us. No one has ever lost out in life, because of speaking the truth. Truth always pays higher and better than lies. There is no comparison whatsoever between truth and lies. May the LORD help us to walk the path of truth and righteousness. May the LORD help us to be willing to pay the price for standing for truth. May the LORD help us not to shrink in the face of truth, but rather, joyfully embrace it, and willingly walk in its path. Even so the LORD help us.
"Think about how much falsehood and deceit there is in the world! How much exaggeration! How many untruths are added to a simple story! How many things are left out, if it does not serve the speaker's interest to tell them! How few there are around us of whom we can say, that we trust their word without question!"