January 9 – In Defense of Truth

“The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful.”(Proverbs 12:22)

IN WORD:
Dishonesty is an epidemic in our culture. Court records, academic surveys, and common observation confirm it. Truth and integrity are expendable in our society.
Why do people lie? Or, to put it more subtly and inclusively, why do virtually all of us sometimes try to create an impression that isn’t entirely accurate? The reasons are many & varied. They include a desire to stay out of trouble, a drive to get ahead, and an obsession about our image. In any case, a person’s dishonesty indicates a lack of trust in God for the consequences of integrity. When we lie — even in a seemingly insignificant way — it is because we are avoiding the results of not lying. We take matters into our own hands because we’re afraid of what will happen if we tell the truth. We do not trust God to honor our integrity.
But our God is a God of integrity. It is in His character. He never lies, and He is not silent when the truth needs to be revealed. It is His nature to be absolutely reliable. There is no hint of pretense in Him. He is who He says He is, He does what He says He will do, and He honors those who follow His lead. Always.

IN DEED:
This is both comforting and convicting. It is comforting because we know that God’s promises in His Word are reliable. When He inspires prophecy, it is accurate. When He promises blessing, it will come. When He says He will defend His people, He will. We can read His Word with unwavering assurance that it is pure truth with no fine print hidden away from our trusting eyes.
But the purity of God’s character is also convicting. We know that though we are called to be like Him, our integrity falls short of His. He is shaping us to reflect His glory, but when we give a false impression, we interfere with His work.
Trust God with the truth. Tell it and display His integrity. Know that He will always defend truth — and those who tell it.

“Where truth is, there is God.” -Miguel De Cervantes-