4 senior students had spring fever real bad and skipped the first 2 hours of school. They arrived late, and each one had the same story – “We had a flat tire.” The teacher said, “OK. Take a seat. You missed a quiz earlier, so you’ll need take it now. Take out a blank sheet of paper with your name on it.” The students all sat down, got out a piece of paper, and wrote their names on it. The teacher said, “The test has only one question – which tire was flat?”
Stats - Once again, from Patterson and Kim’s book The Day America Told the Truth 64% of Americans will lie for convenience as long as no one is hurt.
Doug Mushrow tells us there are 19 great American lies. Here are 12 from his list. See if you agree:
1. The Check is in the mail
2. I’ll start my diet tomorrow
3. We service what we sell
4. Give me your number, and the doctor will call you right back
5. Money cheerfully refunded
6. One size fits all
7. This hurts me more than it hurts you
8. I just need 5 minutes of your time
9. Your table will be ready in a few minutes
10. Let’s have lunch sometime
11. It’s not the money, it’s the principle
12. I’m from the federal government and I’m here to help you
Use whatever creative description you want to: Strategic misrepresentation, Reality augmentation, Terminological inexactitude - not being truthful and the problems that it creates, is no new issue – neither is it limited to our culture.
Ill – Remember Pinocchio, who shunned Jiminy Cricket’s advice and decided that lying was the way to avoid trouble. His growing nose has become a universal symbol for dishonesty.
If only it really worked that way – There’d be a lot of people running around with awfully big noses. Deception has become an accepted norm in our current culture. We may not have the noses for it, but we’re living in the midst of a Pinocchio Syndrome – to borrow a phase from Rubel Shelly.
Joke - Grandma took her 2 grandchildren out to lunch and they misbehaved. On the way home one of them, a seven-year-old girl, asked, "Are you going to tell Mom how we acted?"
Grandmother said, "No, but if she should ask, I can't lie."
The boy said, "What do you mean you can't lie? I'm only 5 years old, and I can lie great!" (At least he was honest!)
I’m addressing the Pinocchio syndrome because of #9 in God’s Top 10: Exodus 20:16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
This command is speaking specifically about not lying to get someone else in trouble in a legal situation. But I want to somehow gracefully get from this 9th command to a more general topic of being a people of truth in general.
You and I, and the people in the 1st Cent., have a tendency to take these 10 Commandments and use them to impose limits, rather than seeing that they are for doing the opposite. We see that it says not to commit adultery, so we say that lusting but not going any farther is OK. We see that it says to not murder, so we go ahead and hate people, we just don’t kill them. Jesus gets a hold of these ideas in the Sermon on the Mount and says that misses the point entirely.
We could do the same with this command today real easily. Don’t give false testimony. In other words, don’t lie about someone in such a way that you hurt them. Or, as some people have adopted, don’t lie if it’s going to hurt someone. So we could say, “There. I don’t lie about people to their harm. I’ve kept this command.”
But like the rest of the Top 10, the NT repeats and expands this command into a more general need. That need is what I want to talk about, but we won’t mention it until the end. The way we’ll get there is a little different than usual…
Let’s start with this fact::
I. You Can’t Separate God from Truth
“I’d like a small serving of God. Not so much that I’m too full for other things. Not so little that other people can’t see Him on the plate. I’d like just enough God for me to feel like He’s there, but not such a big helping that there’s no room for dessert; small enough, that if I decide I don’t want Him, I can cover Him over with my napkin. And when you put Him on the plate, make sure He doesn’t touch the other stuff. I don’t want Him mixed in with everything else. I’d like just a small serving of God.”
Isn’t that where a lot of us are? Maybe we don’t come right out and say it, but in our thinking or practice, we want just enough of God to sweeten life, but not upset it. For many, that means we don’t want to have to put up with that by-product of God we call truthfulness.
But you can’t separate God from truth.
1. Truth is Part of Who He Is
• The HS is 3X called “The Spirit of Truth” by Jesus in just a short time in Jn 14, 15, and16
• Jesus was described by John as the One Who came “Full of grace and truth”
• And Jesus Himself says “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
Add to that the words of John that the HS is the truth and there’s a pattern here – a pattern telling us that truth is part of Who God is, like it or not.
Ill – I’m Scotch Irish Canadian French and German. I can’t change that. Neither can you. Whether you approve of it or not, like it or not, that’s a part of who I am just as surely as I’m standing here. I could legally have my last name changed from Nichols to Puccini. I can even have my face altered. But I can’t change my genetic makeup. It’s part of who I am. If you invite me over to your house, but not the German part of me, I’m sorry. It comes with the rest of me. If you want to speak to me, but not to the Scotch Irish part of me, I’m sorry. Those features have to do with my very being. I’m a package deal.
It’s the same way with God. If you want any part of God, you take this truth part too. Truth is part of Who He is. In fact, it’s so much a part of Who He is that God can’t lie. Does that surprise you?
2. He Can’t Lie – Lying is Detestable to Him
Prov. 6:16 starts a list of 7 things that God finds detestable. Among them are a lying tongue and a person who bears false witness.
It would be an interesting study to make a list sometime of things that God can’t do. There aren’t many, but this is one of them. Truth is too much a part of Who God is for Him to ever lie.
(Numbers 23:19) God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?
Titus 1:2 …the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,
The result of these things is a God Who always deals truthfully and Whose word is always truth.
(John 17:17) Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
So there’s no surprise that…
3. He Uses Truth to Accomplish His Work – to Build and to Free
(John 8:31-32) To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
(John 3:21) But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Truth is part of Him. He hates lying, can’t lie. He uses truth to accomplish His purposes. Maybe by this point you feel like you’ve received a review of the obvious. Our lives don’t always say it’s obvious.
Isn’t it strange that we so often doubt what God plainly says?
Ill - If you trusted me – if you knew me real well to be a person of integrity – someone whose word you could trust – who was never caught in a lie – and I told you something that was a challenge for you to believe, would you believe me based on my history?
• Isn’t it strange? God says if we’ll seek Him and His kingdom first, He’ll provide for all our needs, yet we don’t always act like we think He’s telling the truth.
• Isn’t it strange? God says if we’re lacking wisdom, we should ask Him for it, and He’ll give it, yet we don’t bother asking or don’t expect Him to answer.
• Isn’t it strange? God says the fervent prayers of a righteous man can accomplish much, yet we tend to act like prayer does very little, if anything.
• Isn’t it strange? Jesus says He’s coming back again soon, yet we tend to live like we don’t expect it to happen anytime soon.
Why is that? Isn’t God trustworthy? Remember, you can’t separate God from truth.
Turn the corner with me now – in fact, let’s head into the opposite corner and see how
II. You Can’t Separate Satan from Falsehood
Some folks have a reputation for lying. We all remember the story of the boy who cried “wolf!” His constant lying finally got him in serious trouble.
Joke – A man walking down a country road on a hot day walked past a horse out in a pasture. “Hot out, ain’t it?” “Huh?” “I said, it’s hot out, ain’t it?” The man was dumbfounded. “You’re a, a, a,…” “A talking horse, yea, yea, yea. So tell me why am I out here? I win the KY Derby in ’87, and when I don’t win it the next year, they put me out to pasture.” “Hey! I’ll help you out! How would you like to have me as your owner?” “Fine” said the horse. So he points him to the house of his owner. With dollar signs in his eyes the man knocks on the door. An old farmer answers. “Excuse me sir, I just wondered if you’d consider selling that horse out in the pasture.” “Oh, not really. I’ve never figured he was worth much anymore.” “I’m prepared to give you $5,000 for him.” “Save your money friend. I couldn’t do that to you.” “No, really, I think he’s worth it.” “Oh, I see. You need to know. That horse is the biggest liar in the county. I’ll bet he told you he won the Derby in ’87!”
Some folks rightly gain a reputation for being liars. Satan goes beyond that. He’s the standard setter.
1. It’s Part of Who He Is Now
We don’t have all the details of how the devil got to where he is today. We do know that he has made a vocation of being a deceiver.
(Revelation 12:9) The great dragon was hurled down--that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.
Look in the dictionary under liar and there should be a picture of Satan as the prime example.
(2. He’s the Father of Lies – Lying is His Native Tongue)
Ill – I can usually tell when someone speaking English isn’t speaking his native language. When I was in Austria and attempted to speak one of the 20 German words or phrases I learned, it was very obvious to the people there that it wasn’t my native tongue. I wasn’t skilled at it. I didn’t speak it very well. The looks on those peoples’ faces told me that. I’m sure that I have a very Western accent. When I spoke English, they could tell I was speaking the language I knew well.
Jesus said
(John 8:44b) 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.
When he lies, he speaks his native language. That’s the one he’s skilled at; the one he does the best. Lying is the devil’s native language. So, when we’re being deceitful, what language do we use?
Satan’s lies aren’t just words. The deception business has several subdivisions. (2 Corinthians 11:14) Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. So…
3. He Uses Deception to Accomplish His Work – to Destroy and Enslave
Satan is on the prowl, like a lion seeking someone to devour. His work is the work of ruining people forever. And the main weapon in his arsenal is deceit.
(2 Corinthians 4:4) The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Ill – Let’s try some name/business association here. I’ll call out a name, and you tell me what it’s associated with. When I mention
• Col. Harlan Sanders you think of (chicken)
• NIKE, you think of (shoes)
• Walt Disney, you think of (Mickey Mouse)
• Tiger Woods, you think of (golf)
• Tim Teebow, you think of (football)
And when I mention Satan, you should think: Liar. Lies are his business.
You can’t separate Satan from falsehood.
Now, look at this next passage and look at the relationship between rejecting the truth and being lost.
(2 Thessalonians 2:9-12) The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
The whole scene of people who are lost and dying features an enemy whose main tool is deception. One who tells lies –
• that God doesn’t mean what He says
• that what’s wrong is right
• that how you treat others doesn’t matter
• that satisfaction in life can be found in the wrong places
Ill – If you didn’t trust me – if you knew me real well to be a person who lacked integrity – someone whose word you couldn’t trust – who was frequently caught in lies – and I told you something, maybe even something easy to believe, would you believe me based on my history? Well, of course not.
• Isn’t it strange? Satan tells us that things matter more than people or relationships, and we sometimes act like we believe him.
• Isn’t it strange? Satan says that we should take life into our own hands, try to make it without God’s help, and too often that’s where we end up.
• Isn’t it strange? Satan says that pursuing personal happiness is life’s greatest goal, and there’s a lot about us that says we believe him.
• Isn’t it strange? Satan tells us to doubt that Jesus will ever return. What about the way we live says we don’t believe the devil on this one?
When did the devil become trustworthy? Remember, you can’t separate Satan from falsehood.
By now I hope you’re asking, what does this have to do with me? Here it is.
III. You Can’t Separate Yourself from Both (Neither Will they Mix Well!)
Perhaps if we could just create a little tolerance here. If we could just find some middle ground where we could get them to coexist – life would be a lot simpler!
After all, what’s the big deal?
But the fact is that no one can separate himself from truth and falsehood as if they were non-issues in our lives. They matter. One is uniquely tied to God and the other to Satan. They matter because we say a lot about where our loyalty lies if we choose to lie. What we do with truth says a lot about the condition of our hearts.
Did you know we have a heart condition?
(Jeremiah 17:9) The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
When lies are a part of our life, it tells about our heart condition.
(Matthew 12:34) You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
It works both directions. What comes out of our mouths is going to be an indicator of what’s inside. You just can’t separate yourself from truth or falsehood.
So here are some things to do and remember:
1. You don’t have to lie!
-Don’t believe for a second that it’s ever necessary to lie. There are other alternatives – like trusting God and just telling the truth; like not speaking at all. You don’t have to lie!
2. You don’t have to repeat misinformation or gossip
-If you’re not sure about the truth of something, it would better to not repeat it, rather than being a gardener of falsehood.
3. You don’t have to exaggerate to be interesting
What is exaggeration except what we might consider a “mild form” of deception? Even if you always do this, now’s a good time to quit.
4. You do need to put away hypocrisy
It’s just another way of saying something that isn’t true.
5. You do need to speak the truth, in love, to build up others
(Ephesians 4:25) Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
-This will mean speaking the truth when it’s not comfortable or even when it hurts.
Conclusion:
Ill – In the home where I grew up, lying was near the top of the list of things you just don’t do – if you value life! Talk with your mouth full, make a mess, skip school, accidentally burn down the house, but whatever you do, don’t lie. I think now I understand that better. I understand what Dad was teaching us.
The choice to be a person of God is a choice to be a person of truth. So, decide this morning which it will be for you.
If you have accepted Jesus but find that your life is still full of deception, you make the decision this morning that you’re going to be a person of God, which means becoming a person of truth.
If you never have accepted Jesus, make the decision this morning to put away falsehood and take on the character of Christ. Become a person of truth.
“Aren’t you being a little strong suggesting that being deceptive will keep me from heaven?”
No, I’m just being simple. When Rev. 21:8 says that all liars shall have their part in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the 2nd death, I believe it. When Rev. 22:15 talks about people going into heaven and then says, “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood,” I believe it.
You can’t separate God from truth, and this morning you can’t cling to Him and to lies.
The choice to be a person of God is a choice to be a person of truth – to embrace truth; to stop living in the cloud of darkness; to quit the cover-up; to stop lying to yourself and everyone else by saying everything’s just fine. Decide to become a person of truth this morning.
