Changing Truth Into A Lie

 

The "effortless" is somewhat misleading. It does take a lot less effort to tell a truth than it is to make up a lie - or even work around a truth to tell a partial lie. Just as it takes muscular effort to smile (while it does take some effort) than it does to frown. But, there are times the truth is not easily told. That ties into the second quote - the truth is seldom simple, but "never" doesn't belong there.

Usually it's not simple because the liar had to make up sentences from words that did not fit the truth. "I did it," is much less labor than "Not me, he did it!" That denial not only agrees that something happened, but removes the speaker from the incident, then lays any blame elsewhere. Anyone reading this and remembering when you and I used this denial to defend ourselves? It's one of the first, especially if you have siblings or cousins.

That third one is valid. The Bible tells us:

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32 KJV)

But, it does not tell us we will be free from all the consequences of the truth. I assure you, becoming free through the truth does have consequences. We can understand that from the next verses:

They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:33-34 KJV)

When we equate sin to breaking laws, it's evident that there are many sinners in prison today and they are in bondage to their governmental entities to fulfill their sentence. But - Jesus was speaking of breaking one of two commandments. I repeat them a lot in my blogs only because they are of utmost importance. You can find them in Matthew 22:34-40 in your Bible or by clicking on the reference.

Most of the Law of Moses, and most of mankind's, are written based on verse 39. Moses' included that first part, verse 37, and it is the same for Christians. When both of these commandments are kept, we are not servants of sin. Do you know anyone that keeps both? I don't keep them all the time myself. I've not met anyone who has - or who can. Thus that fourth quote above includes: "until it is finished with you." Until the consequences are fulfilled.

Some consequences are never corrected. Families never are single units after a divorce. The children will see consequences for their parents' actions for the rest of their lives. My husband never saw his birth father after the state took he and his brother from a second marriage as abused children. His birth father died before we discovered the full truth behind his childhood. Recently, a child in our community was murdered. Her parents were accused before the killer was found and confessed. Only two days, but lies spread as wildfire, and pain remains.

There are consequences for our actions within our communities, and we are told what they are:

He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. (John 3:18-21 KJV)

In a much shorter verse:

But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23 KJV)

King David involved a lot of "neighbors" while committing one specific sin, yet he understood:

Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: (Psalms 51:4a KJV)

Then he knew to accept consequences of his Judge:

that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. (Psalms 51:4b KJV)

Do you have a conscience that tells you when what you are doing will harm another person? That means you have knowledge of sinfulness. Can you include knowledge of a God who cares about the consequences to place salvation before you for the asking? That is truth. Too many people have turned it into a lie, calling God's plan a myth. Find out for yourself. Is Jesus Truth, with a capital T?