"how Long O Lord?"

Illus: For example, they will have John Wayne on his horse, ride into a town that is filled with all kinds of major problems, and in a couple of hours he will clean that town up and make it a safe and decent place to live.

The reason it is upsetting to watch such movies is because we find ourselves with major problems, and some of them can not be solved in a lifetime.

In Psalm 13, David gives us a picture of his life in a John Wayne type of approach. That is, in these six small verses, in a very short time, we see David go from DISTRESS to DELIVERANCE.

Let me show you several things about Psalm 13, first-

I. HIS DISTRESS

One of the reasons most Christians enjoy studying the psalms is because they can relate to them. The Psalms relate to many things in their life that they face themselves.

For example, David had lived a godly life, however, his enemies went to King Saul and lied about him, and convinced Saul that David was conspiring to kill him.

Illus: It is astounding the lies that people will tell about a man of God. That is, if they were going to tell lies about someone, they should lie about a dope peddler, liquor proprietor, child molester or someone committing adultery.

No, those who do these things very seldom have anything bad to say about these people. They will find a person like David, that was a man after God’s own heart, and they will lie against him and do everything they can to destroy him.

A lot of folks do not know this, but there are two kinds of liars.

(1) THERE IS THE ORIGINAL LIAR

That is, some folks are so ungodly they will make up something about someone and spread it all over the place as if it is the truth. And it is a LIE that they concocted in their evil heart.

(2) THERE IS THE SECOND HAND LIAR

The lie they tell did not originate with them. But without knowing if something is true or not, they will take the lie they have heard and spread it all over the country as if it was true.

Illus: Second hand liars are like second hand smoke that cigarette smokers produce. We are told by the experts that second hand smoke is as bad, if not more deadly than the first hand smoke.

Those who go around destroying people with their lies make us wonder IF THEY ARE SAVED.

LET’S SEE WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS ABOUT THEM.

Based on the Word of God, I do not think so.

• Look at James 1:26, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”

Notice, God’s Word says their religion is in vain. The word “Vain” here is the Greek word “Mataios” (Pronounced as mat'-ah-yos) it means empty.

Illus: They tell everyone they are saved, that Christ lives within them. But if they had a lid on their heart, and you could open them up and look inside of them, James says you would discover they are EMPTY!

But notice two more things that James says:

(1) They make everyone else think they are saved. But James says they are not, they just “…Seem to be Religious”

(2) But notice, not only have they fooled others, but they have fooled themselves. Look at James 1:26 again, we read, “…BUT DECEIVETH HIS OWN HEART…”

ARE THESE PEOPLE SAVED? God’s Word says they are NOT. Let me show you more proof that such people are not saved.

Look at Proverbs 6:16-19, we read, “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”

Notice, how many of these things on God’s hate list deal with those who tell lies.

• Verse 16, “Lying tongue.”

• Verse 18, “Feet that be swift in running to mischief.”

• Verse 18, “A false witness that speaketh lies.”

• Verse 19, “He that soweth discord among brethren.”

Four out of the seven things that God hates, have to do with telling lies.

You see, if God allowed these people in heaven they would be sowing discord in heaven. These people are EMPTY OF GOD’S SALVATION, but they are full of the things that God hates.

But if these verses have not convinced you that they are not saved, let me show you another one that will.

Look at Rev. 21:8, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”