Thursday, February 10, 2011

Why We Believe A Lie?

  YOU CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH ! 

      Maybe we choose to believe a lie, because the truth really does hurt.  Perhaps, “WE CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!   Could it be that the comfortable lie saves us from a cruel pain truth creates?   As we embrace the lie, does it help us cope with the reality that we aren’t as self sufficient as we thought?  Does the lie help us perpetuate the myth that we have no need for others, above all God Himself?  What makes the lie so easy to swallow?   Is the truth really so much harder to grasp?
      In John 8:32 and 33, we find Jesus talking to his disciples about truth and freedom.  He tells them, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free,” (NLT).   At first they didn’t get it saying, “But we are descendants of Abraham, we have never been slaves to anyone.  What do you mean, ‘You will be set free?”  

      Later in John 14:6 Jesus declares that He (Jesus) is the way the truth and the life.  He goes on to tell us that nobody can come to Father God except through Him.  Jesus is the way.  Jesus is the Living Word of God.  In John 17:17 he says, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
As Christ followers, we need to always be on guard to the lies Satan will use to distract us from the truth found in God’s Word.   Too often we forget the subtle way in which a lie can be presented.  Have you ever met someone who is always handling out flattering insincere comments? 1 Thessalonians warns against this type of disingenuous sweet talk.

      Lies can also hide behind a simple overstatement.  I’m often guilty of exaggeration and my propensity toward this keeps me from recognizing it as a clever lie in opposition to truth.   Ephesians 4:25, tells us to put off falsehood and speak truthfully.   Even a simple failure to correct a false impression, can lead to deceiving others.  Leviticus 19:11, commands that we not to be deceitful.   

      Needless to say we all struggle with lies, believing them and telling them.  However, if I am serious about deepening my personal relationship with Jesus I MUST seek truth.   Even for someone like me, who loves playful teasing, must come to love truth more than a hearty chuckle. 

      In John 16:12-14, Jesus give us some great news.   Jesus says that the truth He had to share with us is more than we can bear so the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.   Isn’t that incredible?   We don’t have to hook everyone we meet up to a lie detector machine, to see if they are telling us the truth.  Holy Spirit promises to guide us into finding the truth, all of it.   Don’t believe a lie?   Connect with Holy Spirit and see what interesting truths He is willing to disclose to you.