We have a saying around the Ethridge household… You are never more like Satan than when you lie.  We get this from John 8:44b where it is recorded Jesus said, “He (Satan) was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  If we lie, the father of lies is who we are following.

A person believes “Thou Shalt Not Lie” when they tell the truth even though it costs them.  Read that two more times… SLOWLY.  Telling the truth is easy when there’s no cost associated with the result of telling the truth.  But when there’s a cost to telling the truth, the truth of what’s in our heart is exposed!

What is a lie?  A lie is when deception of any kind is part of any communication with others.  Telling half the truth is lying.  Not telling all the truth is lying.  Letting people come to a wrong conclusion is lying.  Misrepresenting is lying.  Telling others something we’ve heard, not knowing if it’s true, can be lying and is gossipping.  If we don’t say anything when we could correct misinformation means we have a lying spirit.

The truth is in us when we tell the truth even though it cost us… (Click here for a lesson from Notre Dame’s short lived football coach George O’Leary.).

A lot is written in Scripture about honesty and truth: Ps 15:1-2;Ps 51:6; Ps 86:11; Pr 8:7; Pr 12:19; Pr 14:25; Ac 5:3-5; 1 Cor 13:6b; Eph 4:15; Eph 4:25; Col 3:9.

There is a reason that in court people must sware to tell “The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”  When truth is absent, destruction… disintegration… and death results.  Relationships, community, society, and personal well being all suffer immensely when lying is present.

It cost David to confess to Nathan he had sinned… but the truth was that important to the king.  I am of the opinion that we are people of the truth when we tell the truth even though doing so has the potential… or will… cost us.

Thus Christians tell the truth even though… Their reputation takes a hit; It costs them financially; They lose their job; Their family has to suffer; Personal injury results; They lose friends.  Christians tell the truth at all times… in all situations… regardless of the cost… regardless of the result.  Why?

Because we are never more like Satan than when we lie.  Because truth is the foundation of our faith.  Because to lie is contrary to the nature of our savior and God.  Because the truth more important than we are.

In the very near future, you will be presented with a situation where you will be tempted regarding the truth.  At that moment what you say will… 1) Reveal who you follow, and 2) The condition of your heart.