Lying Hurts You and Others

Has anyone ever lied to you? You may be thinking, "Really? Of course, all the time!" If you catch them in a lie and call them on it, what do they tell you? Here's some things I've been told, "It's no big deal. Why are you making such a big deal about it?" Or, "I just didn't want you to worry. It's easier if you don't know." Or finally, "I'm sorry. I didn't think you'd find out." For me, these answers weren't any better than the lies they told me originally. 

Unfortunately, lying is a way of escape, a way out for many. As a school teacher and later principal, people lied to me all the time...teachers, students, parents, administrators, and even custodians. Why? They wanted to do things their way and they either didn't want to have to explain themselves or they were actually trying to get away with something they knew they shouldn't be doing! But, in reality, don't we do the same thing with God? Don't we keep from telling Him things because we'd rather do it our own way or we know our way is in opposition to who God is and what His Word says.

After years of people lying to me, starting when I was young to later in my life as an adult, I began to question whether anyone was trustworthy. I actually get quite emotional to this day, when someone is authentically honest! They own their actions and behaviors and call them what they are...disloyal, unethical, or even sinful. It's so refreshing that there are people who don't have to be cornered and questioned to come to the truth, but see their behavior for what it is and call themselves out. 

In Colossians 3:9-10, Paul tells us this about lying, "Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator." We, as Christians, are called to a higher standard, being like our Creator. We are to put away our lying ways that we may have felt we needed in our old lives to protect us from abuse, discipline, redirection, or to just get our own way without interruption. We are to act like the new people we are in Christ. We are to be honest, trustworthy, and righteous. That's tough to do all the time, especially when our old flesh wants to make life "easier on us" at times, by getting our way through manipulation and hidden agendas. 

We may get away with our lies here on earth, people may not discover the dirt we have managed to bury. But God is righteous and just, so Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:25 that, "Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism." I don't know about you, but I would much rather own up to my lies and sins, here and now, then to face God with them later. 

If it's time for you to come clean, then pray to God to forgive you of your sins and help you make things right in your life and in the lives of those you may have hurt. He will forgive you, He already has through Jesus's death on the cross and resurrection three days later. He promises to forgive you of your sins, if you will be honest with Him about them, and the good thing is God is trustworthy all the time. That's His nature, that is who He is. 

John 8:44, You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.