THE LIE

From the Pastor's Study by Rev. Jack Hulsey

 

The Lie

 

It is absolutely true that you can make a word seem meaningless by just saying it over and over enough times.  Say the word  “important," for instance – say it about 20 times – and you'll come away with this sort of dizzy feeling that nothing in the world may really be all that important.

That is probably one reason the world has so many problems with the truth today.  To most people, it is just a word that means whatever you want it to mean, this, and the fact that anti-truth (i.e., lying) has been massively promoted as an acceptable way for society to carry on its business and social relationships.

But wait a minute – don't people hate to be lied to?  Of course they do, when they're hurt by it.  But what about someone who persuades you that you need a brand new pickup truck when you're old pickup truck is running perfectly well?  They do this by showing you amazing pictures on television of pickup trucks doing spectacular, unbelievable feats, like coming to a screeching halt right at the edge of a cliff while trailering a ton of steel beams.  It can carry you up the mountain and stop you before you go over the edge; everyone needs one of these trucks.

Of course, you know that in your heart of hearts this isn't true, but you aren't there to ask questions.  Desire has been kindled and that desire has become perceived as a need.  It's all by the miracle of computer-generated animation, of course, and none of this stuff is really true.  But you can bet that somewhere, some goober thinks it's the real deal.  The First Amendment allows you to use hyperbole such as this (or to flat-out lie, for that matter).  It's the American way of doing things, a little wild exaggeration here and there.

The problem is, you can't dip into lying just a teeny bit and come out clean, any more than you can dip into any other kind of sin.  Lying is one of the worst habits that all of us have.  Some people might call it “spin" others might call it “persuasive speech" but we find ourselves believing we can take huge liberties with the truth, if we do it for the right reason, and God won't mind so much.

But it is Satan who is the architect of the lie, plain and simple.  Jesus said," you are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  (John 8:44 NASB)

 

There is one and only one antidote to the lie and that is the truth.  The truth may seem very mysterious and elusive to many people, but it all focuses down to one point, which the Bible is very clear on:" I am the way, the truth and the life."(John 14:6).  Christ is the essential truth of all things, and any search for the truth has to proceed from Him.  With all the lies the world tries to make you believe this is why our eyes and ears should be focused on Him.

(From the Pastor by Rev. Jack Hulsey, Praise & Worship / April 12, 2015, Woodlake Baptist Church)