At times we have all opened the refrigerator and been met with a foul smell. Something has expired and now is becoming a “science project.” Lying can be like this, it is subtle but figuratively speaking, rot leads to a stench.
Basset hounds have a keen sense of smell, they possess up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about six million in us. And the part of a dog’s brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is, proportionally speaking, 40 times greater than ours.
Unfortunately, lying can become a natural practice in most circles of life. Half-truths, false pretenses even “beating around the bush” in our approach because something is hidden that we don’t want to be exposed. We want people to think well of us, and have a great impression – but at what cost?
Web of Lies
Lying to ourselves is the platform of lying to others. Are you caught in this internal web?
Here are some indicators:
- My desire is my greatest need
- My needs will never be met
- If people knew me, they would want nothing to do with me
- I must act as another person to be accepted
The devil is a liar, there is NO TRUTH in him in John 8:44. The devils “web” always entraps us. What stops this vicious cycle? Our security in the unconditional love of God. When we know what to say NO to – it is easier to say YES to the right things. This is the eternal truth to shout into our lives – Phillippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
The Apostle Paul declares in Philippians 4:8 “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” What are you saying yes to? This will expose the truth or strengthen the lie.
Like Passions
We all born with genetic tendencies that can take us in directions we don’t want to go. Thoughts and actions come to our minds and we act out of guilt or fear. These “passions” come from an appetite of the soul. IN truth we can reverse and reprogram our soul. We see in James 5:17 Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we all…..”.
Sometimes when we look at people to compare ourselves with them, we don’t see that they are as weak as we are, with like passions. It is by the grace of God and a surrendered life and intentional godly habits that passions can be channeled to glorify God. The reasoning in the soul must have a “checkpoint of truth”. The lie can creep in to preserve ourselves, but the truth shows the contrast and exposes the lie. The TRUTH sets us FREE!
Insecurity can be like a bulldozer in the soul where we are motivated based on guilt, shame, or fear and the ” degenerate passions” can overtake us.
Regenerated passions can be so powerful as they are rooted and grounded in the truth of WHO Jesus says we are. In 1 John 3:20 “ For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” This established a healthy perspective and keeps the real truth in the driver’s seat.
Let the “chips” fall where they may, honesty leads to transformation. Say YES to everything that Jesus says you are, and NO to what the devil says – this is the TRUTH, the whole TRUTH and nothing but HIS TRUTH – so help me God!
Jason is a graduate from Maryland Bible College and Seminary, and presently he leads the Pastoral Care Team of Greater Grace Church in Baltimore. Since age 16, Jason has been involved with mission work among the former Soviet-Bloc countries in Eastern Europe, as well as in Asia, and in the United States. While living in Ukraine, he helped church plant three new churches that continue to thrive today under trained nationals. He has also written five books and has his own podcast (www.InnerRevolution.us)
