 I can't recall hearing so many accusations against political figures as I've heard in the past year. When all you hear is account after account of lies being told to the American people, it's terrible, horrible, and repulsive, to say the least! I was in a conversation with someone, when they commented, "Everyone lies"! I looked at them with disdain and surprise and they looked back at me with a look that said, "You don't know this!? It is beyond sad when the world at large has no regard for the truth! But, I really could care less about the world; what concerns me is the community of folk who profess Christianity because they have been called to a higher standard! God is very clear on what He thinks of Lying, Liars, and Lies. So, what are some of the reasons that cause one to lie?
Any way you look at it, lying is a serious problem. I don't care if the whole world finds it okay, God says it is wrong! It is a sin! It is unacceptable, and punishable. Prov. 6:16, 17 says, "These six things does the Lord 'Hate', and seven are an abomination (detestable) to Him. A proud look, a 'Lying Tonge'." Have you ever been lied to or lied on? It's an awful thing. Being lied on can cause pain, and suffering. Being lied to, causes mistrust, and loss of respect. Lies destroy reputation, and it damages the local church body; even the liar gets his or her reputation ruined eventually. What about those individuals who say, "I never lied, I just said", so and so." The truth of it is that although they didn't state the lie outright, it's still a lie because they caused someone to believe something that wasn't true. That is called intentionally deceiving a person! Prov. 12:19 clearly states, "Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment." Lies don't and won't last or prevail. Sooner or later, the truth wins out and the liar is exposed for all to see! So, if you are ever in a situation where you were lied to or lied on, it's only a matter of time for the truth to come out. I have seen this happen. In all actuality, you need to pray for the person who is doing the lying because the judgement of God will fall on them when they least expect it. God will not suffer a liar to persist in what they are doing. And should this liar spread lies on you, remember this; It is God who shuts mouths! He will literally shut them up by exposing them! There's another category of lying out there. It is the habitual liar. They are called 'Pathological Liars' because they chronically lie, and easily lie. Here is the problem with lying. It can become a habit! Once a person takes up lying, and get a PHD in it, it's almost virtually impossible for them to stop. This can be dangerous. This type of liar can cause a person to get killed. Rev. 21:8 says, "All liars shall have their part in the lake of fire." This speaks to pathological, habitual liars. They obviously know not God. What disturbs me deeply is the liar who lies unnecessarily. They fell into a situation that placed their back against the wall, and they consciously chose to lie. That really bothers me. They didn't have to handle the matter that way. They end up loosing their reputation and those who once trusted them, don't anymore. Even their ministry is compromised, and becomes a stumbling block. 2 Cor. 8:21 says, "Provide things honest before God and man." Not only are we to be honest before God, we are to be honest and have honest dealings with all men; and that means everyone. Ps. 31:18 states, "Let lying lips be put to silence, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous." This verse tells us that the liar will be silenced eventually. The lies they take pleasure in speaking, is causing pain and sorrow as they express deep hatred and disapproval for the person they are lying on. God plans on shutting their mouth! I will end with this verse. "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches."! Lying does matter! It matters a great deal to God! NO ONE RESPECTS A LIAR! 
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 As the year comes to a close, I find myself in reflective mode, as usual. There was a tremendous amount of stuff to ponder. It was important to take a trip down memory lane. I, in no way, want to take away from all the wonderful grandfathers out there! They are most valuable and have served as wonderful examples for the next generation to follow. Of course, I don't speak in absolutes, but many have done an outstanding job and have earned the title, 'Grandfather'. There are things that are distinctly different when it comes to 'Grandmothers'. Although they have raised children, they somehow have the where withal to give to the next generation. They muster up the energy that's needed. I'm speaking of mental energy, and the psychological energy to see what needs tending to in the family structure. They quietly pitch in, while reserving their judgement for prayer and sometimes fasting. Grandparents are God's gift to the less experienced parent, and the buffer for the children. Think about it for a moment. They have learned from experience what the more excellent way is. The mistakes they may have made in the past with their own children, has tempered them, softened them, and made them more empathetic and patient. I have found that perspective is everything! Sometimes as a parent, your discernment and judgement works off of your own childhood experiences, be it good or bad. You use good ole common sense, right from wrong, and simply, 'Because I said so'. When you become a grandparent, you operate a little differently. Although you see things the same as before, you now see them in a more balanced way. Age has a way of bringing together experience and patience. The patience we may not have had with our own children, somehow kick in with our very first grandchild. It's a phenomenal thing to see and to experience. I chuckle as I write this blog because only God knows how that happens. I would like to focus a little on 'Grandmothers' and their prayers. God so graciously used my grandmother's prayers. I had no idea. I am living off of many of her prayers today, and will until the day I die or until I am translated into heaven. I now know what some of her prayer requests were on my behalf. All I have to do is take a look at all of the good choices I've made in life. Even the bad ones that resulted in a good end speak to the specific, well defined prayers she spoke to God as she brought me before Him day after day. You see, a grandmother's prayers are so uniquely designed to take in all possible detours and the disobedience of an erring child. Grandmothers know the ins and outs of all the situations young ones can get themselves into. We'd be amazed if we eaves dropped on their conversations with God. Blessed is every woman who takes her grand parenting seriously, with a spiritual twist! As a woman, grandma can enter into the things that a male cannot. God has designed her heart to be intuitive, intense, discerning, and sincere. They are the nurturers and the grand - nurturer who never slumbers or sleeps. What a tremendous virtue little ones and the older ones have when they spend time with her. Grandchildren have no idea that when they go to grandma's house, it's so much more than candy, cake, and ice-cream. They have now come in contact with pure wisdom, power, and love at its best! Add to that, the prayers she sends up, and it's on! There are many who are grandparents who may have failed at parenting, who try to do better with the next generation. Some are successful with it while others repeat the same mistakes of the past. This is sadly unfortunate. If you have had a grandmother who was an overall solid good mother to her children, you are blessed! Learn from her, value and appreciate her if she is still living. Ponder, and remember her if she is gone. Follow her example. We know that our grandparents weren't perfect, but many were righteous, God fearing people. They have left you and I a legacy of faith with a host of other valuables we can draw from. Take a little time, as the year is on its way out, and take a trip down memory lane; see the many jewels you have been left, take it in, and turn and praise the Lord for His mercy, His wisdom, and His wonderful love towards you!  I can only imagine the disappointment and displeasure God has experienced due to the breach in relationships among His people. He is grieved. He is angered by it, especially when it goes on for years and years, because it limits His hand of blessing upon the individuals who are at fault. The local church becomes hindered as well.
For the life of me, I do not understand why humans would rather feed and nurture a riff rather than heal it. God gives clear instructions on how to mend fences and how to effectively get along despite our differences. He knew we would clash every now and again, so He gives healthy, godly solutions in order to work out our differences with respect. If a person has offended you, you have a leg to stand on, and you have every right to confront them, to help them see where they have wronged you. For the person who runs to others, to complain about someone, I scarcely doubt they were the offended party at all. It may just be that they have an issue that doesn't qualify as an offense. God desires that there be healing in broken relationships. The problem comes in when individuals refuse to do their part in the healing process. Mind you, not every quarrel or disagreement is an offense. God is not interested in our worship of Him, until we go and make things right with our brother or sister. "Leave your sacrifice there at the altar. First go and be reconciled to that person, then come and offer your sacrifice to God" (Matt. 5:24). Scripture tells us to confess our sins to God. He also tells us to confess the wrong we've done, to each other. This is the part many fail to do. No one should know that there was a breach between you and another person. It must remain between you and that person alone. It does not involve others. When you bring others into it, you have now sown discord among the Lord's people. This is an abomination to God. He detests this type of thing, yet we do it time and time again. You can always tell who knows what, by the way they are now responding to you, or reacting to you. It is one of the worst things that saints can do. It impacts the entire church. It should be the desire of individuals to resolve their issues. It should never go on for months, let alone years. God gives a time span for the fault to be rectified. Don't let Sunday come and you have an unresolved issue with your brother. That is the time span. There are seven days to a week and which ever day the offense occurred, that's the amount of time, before Sunday, that it should be resolved. I have found that when persons have a desire to honor and please the Lord, these matters get ironed out quickly. When they don't, it leaves room for speculation. It shows a lack of spirituality, and an unwillingness to be obedient. It also shows a lack of true love on the part of the person resisting. Sometimes both parties are resistant to do what needs to be done. Failure to work out offenses causes the matter to grow and fester, thereby infecting others. It doesn't matter how much we may try to cover this sin, we will not prosper. "He who conceals his sins will not prosper" (Prov. 28:13). HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS WE DO WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO HIDE A SIN AGAINST OUR BROTHER:
In some cases, the party isn't offended at all by the negative action on our part. They simply have been forewarned by our behavior, and have decided to step back and limit their dealings with us. Some of us have it twisted. We think that just because a person is a Christian, that we can get away with taking them for granted, and that they should always give us what we want when we come to them. I don't read that anywhere in the Bible. But I have read where it clearly states, "Whatsoever a man sows, that he shall also reap" (Gal. 6:7), "A brother offended, is harder to be won than a strong city", (Prov. 18:19). In other words, when we choose to treat a person a certain way, for whatever reasons, we must be prepared for the outcome of such treatment. Once a person sees our character and manner of handling them, they wisely pull back. We are not to take advantage of one another or take each other for granted. Many blessings have been lost because we don't handle one another properly. We should be enjoying all that we have with one another, but instead, we ruin relationships among the Lord's people, and we refuse to make things right. We've pretty much come to the end of another year. Let's examine ourselves. Let's not let the next year roll in with old issues that are unresolved. Confess your fault to God, and then go and confess it to your brother or sister while there is still time. |
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