Lying

With the recent media blitz into the life of Tiger Woods, I am reminded of how damaging lying is in the lives of every person. Advertising sponsors, onlookers, the paparazzi and media are all making Tiger out to be a monster. Yes, he has sinned and horribly harmed his loved ones and my heart breaks for his wife and children. However, Tiger is no different than millions of people who are living lives of deception everyday. The difference being he is under the scrutiny of the world due to his celebrity status.

I am very saddened for his wife and children yet I am reminded that lying is common fodder in this world. Spouses lie to each other. Children lie to parents. Employees lie to employers. I would venture to state that nearly everyone has lied in his or her life. Sometimes lies are labeled “white lies” in an attempt to lessen the seriousness of the transgressions.

However, God takes lying very seriously. Let us take a moment to review what God’s Word has to state about lying and deception. John 8:44 teaches us that the Devil is
“the father of lies”. The next time we are tempted to tell a falsehood or to be dishonest, let us pause to reflecton this truth. The originator and planter of the desire to lie in our minds and hearts is Satan himself. Knowing this, believers, can battle this urge to be deceptive in the spiritual realm through prayer and hurling God’s Words back at the father of deception.

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible states: “Let us learn the importance of truth and sincerity, in all the affairs of life. Liars and murderers resemble the devil …” Those are powerful words to reflect upon and consider the next time we are tempted to launch into a lie. It is obvious from these comments that no area of our lives is exempt from needing to be saturated in truthfulness. And who wants to resemble the Devil or grouped in the same circuit as murderers?

Ephesians 4:25 reminder is “put away lying”. May we each be encouraged by this admonition to strive for honesty and truthfulness in every area of our lives. Liars never believe that they will be “found out”. Just ask Tiger about that philosophy. He never thought he would be under this public microscope.