October 25, 2006

Who's Your Daddy?

In the spring of 1999, two young ladies from Jacksonville High School decided to skip school one bright and beautiful day to go to the beach.  They planned to report to school the next day and say they were sick.  With their plan made, they drove to Emerald Isle and had a great day sunbathing and guy watching. But when the supposedly sick young ladies got up the next morning to go to school, guess whose photo was on the front page of the Daily News? They were busted!

Everyone tells lies now and then – at least that’s what they say!  Lying is just not viewed as all that serious in our culture. In fact, a lot of people consider it helpful and good! Just look at these quotes:

  • A degree of lying - you know, white lies - seems to be inherent in all languages and all forms of communication. - Matthew Lesko
  • Lying increases the creative faculties, expands the ego, and lessens the frictions of social contacts. - Clare Boothe Luce
  • Lying is the simplest form of self-defense. - Susan Sontag
  • Honesty is for the most part less profitable than dishonesty. - Plato
  • Honesty is the best policy - when there is money in it. - Mark Twain
Just how serious is a lie?  Consider these situations and see if a lie from one of the following would be acceptable to you:  
  • The manufacturer of the tires on your vehicle says, “The tires that you are riding on are safe.”
  • An airplane mechanic servicing a plane you are about to board says, “The engine will last through your entire flight.”
  • Your spouse says, “I will be faithful to you alone until death.” 
With that in mind, let’s look at God’s Word.  The purpose of looking into God’s Word is to get our minds focused on God’s perspective – if our thinking is different than God’s; we need to change our heart and mind.  The eighth commandment declares:

You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Exodus 20:16 NKJV

Here are three things you should know about lying:

1. God hates lying. 
These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:  A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV


2. Satan is the source of lying.


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 NKJV 
3.  Lying has severe consequences.
He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Rev. 21:7-8 NKJV 
If everyone lies, then we have big trouble, my friends. Given what God’s Word says bout lying, what hope do we have? We have great hope in Jesus! 
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32 NKJV
And what is this truth that will set us free?  It is not what, but who? 
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 NKJV 
When I had knees that were a little more stable, I used to shoot basketball with the teenagers.  After I made a particularly good shot I would ask those with whom I was playing, “Who’s your daddy?”  So let me ask you, “Who’s your daddy?”  Is it the Father of Lies or the Father of Truth?
Posted by Jim at 21:19:39 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |
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