The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.

(Proverbs 12:22)

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As a high school teacher, I received numerous “excuses” for late homework, incomplete homework, or no homework submitted at all. The majority of these explanations were not true. Some students would retract these excuses and provide honest information, but many would strongly continue to declare these excuses as “truths” and even obtain the support of friends who, likewise, strongly stated the “truthfulness” of their friend’s excuses. Lying was acceptable and definitely desirable- if it worked.

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will not escape. (Proverbs 19:5)

Lying didn’t work with me though.  One student was shocked that lying would be punished by serving an hour in after-school detention. In disbelief, he asked me several times if I was actually serious. Lying was not a “big thing” to him. It still isn’t seen as a “big deal” to many in our society and culture today, especially when it works to one’s advantage.

“It’s official: Truth is dead. Facts are passe. Oxford Dictionaries has selected ‘post-truth’ as 2016’s international word of the year.” ¹

The international word of the year is an untruth, a lie. Yet, it does depict the decline in our society regarding belief in the One standard for Truth:

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Truth IS Truth and there can be nothing beyond it, after it, or supplemental to it. God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” This leaves no “pre” or “post” interpretation. TRUTH IS. This, also, leaves no “pre” or “post” interpretation.

The danger in not confronting untruth is that someone may never be set free to enter the joys of being with the Lord.  Instead, one may be left to the wiles of Satan: “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”  (John 8:44)

Lying IS a “big thing.” It can result in an eternity without God. Ignoring untruth, remaining silent, being noncommittal can affect someone’s eternity—and our own as well. “ ¹⁶ There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: ¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes feet that are quick to rush into evil, ¹⁹ a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.  (Proverbs 6:16-19)

 “It’s official: TRUTH IS ALIVE!” It is our responsibility to spread the Word of Truth.

 ¹ “ ‘Post-truth’ named 2016 word of the year by Oxford Dictionaries” By Amy B Wang November 16, 2016 http://www.washingtonpost.com.

(Sharon G. Tate blog 02/26/17)  teacherforjesus.com Meditations on God’s Word