Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

“Tell your friend a lie. If he keeps it secret, then tell him the truth.”

“I’m not upset that you lied to me, I’m upset that from now on I can’t believe you” Proverbial Sayings.

These proverbial sayings are about the impact and far reaching effect that lies has on us. Lies not only ensnare us but trap us into a lifestyle that causes us to believe these lies ourselves. Let us examine these statements to see where they fall down.

The first saying tells us about our friends and how we should react to their fidelity. The fact that we should have to tell our friend a lie in the first place to determine whether or not they are genuine goes against scriptural principles. For example, ‘a true friend sticks closer than a brother’ the writer of Proverbs tells us in 18:24. This implies that a friend who is true will always be that, true and tell you the truth not to appease you but to transform you into the person you were created to be. To counter this mindset then I was taught this proverbial saying as a child; ‘speak the truth and speak it ever cost it what it will, he who hides the wrong he does will do the wrong thing still’. Not only is this position liberating it allows you to sleep in peace at nights.

The second quotation is profound in that the writer is expressing his heart to a close friend or to a lover who has deceived him. As pointed out a few days ago, deception is underwritten by half truths. And I can imagine Adam repeating these words to Eve. The very nature of lies is to tie you up so tightly that it affects your well-being and causes your health to deteriorate. This leads to bitterness, which leads to diseases such as cancer and failure of the major organs in our bodies so that we eventually die.

On the other hand, speaking the truth has the opposite effect. Knowing and speaking the truth is liberating and brings healing to everyone who walks down this road. Jesus said; ‘you will know the truth and the truth will set you free’, John 8:32.

Lies entangle you in a web of deceit, the truth sets us free, but only when we get to know him. Remember that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life’.

Read John 8:12-59