Starting in December of 1956, some 3,811 episodes (and counting!) of the game show known as To Tell the Truthhave aired on network television. The celebrity panel has to figure out which of the three contestants is telling the truth about their life and adventures.
Why are we so fascinated with this? I’m not sure. It can be fun to try and get to the bottom of things and ascertain the truth when you know that some are intentionally leading you astray. Such a game is innocent enough.
But outside of games and entertainment, deception is anything but fun and innocent.
It is foolish and deadly.
King Solomon wanted his sons to know that they needed to be men of integrity. He prayed that they would grow up to be men who could be counted on and trusted to tell the truth. In other words, his sons needed to be trustworthy. Otherwise, they were fools.
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Prov. 6:16-19)
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are His delight. (Prov. 12:22)
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish. (Prov. 19:9)
Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel. (Prov. 20:17)
From this small sample of biblical wisdom, we learn at least the following:
· God hates deception (and loves honesty and faithfulness).
· Deception is always found out / revealed.
· Deception leads to pain and sorrow for the deceiver.
In addition to these wise words spoken by a hopeful father to his son, we find the same admonition in the New Testament. We are to “put away…all deceit…” (1 Pet. 2:1) and model ourselves after Jesus the Christ who, “committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth” (1 Pet. 2:22).
Therefore, if we desire to avoid unnecessary heartache and pain…and if we desire to be more and more like Jesus our Lord…we will only and always be known to tell the truth.
