Do you Lie ? 

  Johnny, Johnny ! 

 Yes papa… Eating sugar ?

 No papa… Telling lies ?

 No papa… Open your mouth ! Ha haha!

I am sure that on reading these lines, your mind is flooded with childhood memories, but does it also ring a bell, alarming you of the message they convey???

I still remember this incident which took place when I was a kid. As a family we were going on a long summer vacation. My mom had just cleaned the refrigerator and emptied it. We usually switched off the refrigerator while we are away on long trips. The ice cubes that were removed from it were dumped in a vessel. I was fascinated by those ice cubes and wanted to take them but mom strictly told me not to.

Finally when we were about to leave our house for the railway station, after the family prayer, my dad asks me if I took the ice cubes. I promptly denied! To my utter shock I was caught. I had filled my shirt pocket and trouser pockets with those ice cubes and they melted, wetting my clothes, giving away my secret act. How foolish I was!
You just smiled right???

Years later this incident kept me thinking as to how easily I could lie promptly. It was a hard realization, that even after so many years I still did find myself in situations like that, where lying was so easy and in a subtle way it had kept me its slave, till I took a conscious decision to overcome it with the strength that Jesus assures, when we confess and ask Him to help us.

 Do you also find yourself in this trap today?
 Do circumstances in your work place demand you to speak lies?
 Do you find it so convenient to get your work done by lying, thinking its ok?
Maybe the world around us makes it look like lying is actually not an issue, as long as it helps someone and that “a white lie is ok!” But let me remind you of what the Bible has to tell about ‘lying’.

  Warnings:
• “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful” Prov 12:22
• “You destroy those who tell lies” Ps 5:6
• “But…the liars – their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.” Rev 21:8

Remember what happened to Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, when he lied to his master? The Bible records that the same leprosy that left Naaman, stuck to Gehazi and he became a leper! II Kings 5:25-27. This is how serious the Bible is about lying. And it is sad, how we have taken it so lightly today. Yes it’s true we are living in the grace period, but we cannot afford to take God’s grace for granted.


Blessings:
• “Whoever of you loves life and desire to see many good days , Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.” Ps 34:12, 13.
• “Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live in your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous Who speaks the truth from his heart.” Ps 15:1,2.

Yes-Yes No-No Principle
I would like draw your attention to a simple and effective solution the Bible gives us to abstain from lying. Hold on to this and practice it.

Simply, let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’, ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

 ~ Mat 5:37 

This is given by Jesus when He talks about taking oaths. But then if you can practice this truly, you will find that there is no more opportunity for lying. Make a firm and conscious decision that you will not flinch or succumb to the situation, no matter how demanding it is.

You will agree with me that when you tell one lie, to support it you will end up vomiting a hundred other lies. And when this goes on, slowly it becomes a regular behavior. Then this regular behavior becomes a strong habit. Habits later become part of your character. Character builds your lifestyle. And finally your lifestyle decides your destiny.

So I urge you today my friend, that you would sit back and introspect to see if lying is a virus in your life too. As the psalmist prayed, I would encourage you to pray, saying,

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, And lead in the way everlasting.

 (Ps 139:23,24)

If the Lord convicts you, would you humbly confess your weakness before Him? Do you choose to break free from the chains of lie?

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

 I John 1:9

 ~ Azariah Jerry Manuel