Written ~ 09-23-2023
Proverbs 12:17-22
“An honest witness tells the truth; a false witness lies.
Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.
Truthful words stand the test of time, but lies are soon exposed.
Deceit fills hearts that are planning evil; joy fills hearts that are planning peace!
No harm comes to the godly, but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
The LORD detests lying lips, but HE delights in those who tell the truth.”
Well… God makes it very clear in these verses what He feels about lying and a deceitful heart. Nothing good will ever come of lying, it only leads to the plotting of much more evil schemes and even more trouble for yourself! In verse 12:22 it says,
“The LORD detests lying lips.”
The word detest is a really strong feeling! Some of the synonyms for detest are hate, despise, loathe, abhor. As a Christian, lying should never be a part of our thought process. It’s hurtful and breaks trust into little, tiny pieces. When someone lies with consistency, it becomes extremely difficult to believe anything that comes out of that person’s mouth. I can see why God detests it so much. As a believer, if you are falling into the trap of lying about everything, what kind of witness are you being for your Savior! If you are lying frequently, without remorse, it may be time to examine your heart. Where is the lying spirit coming from? Asking yourself “why” may give you the underlying reasons as to how lying has become such a huge part of your life. From our verses for today, let’s look at just the parts about lying…
- A false witness tells lies
- Some people make cutting remarks
- Lies are soon exposed
- Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil
- The wicked have their fill of trouble
- The LORD detests a lying heart
I would imagine with the words used in these verses, that the lying heart talked about here would not be from a person who is a believer. With Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I just can’t see living out those verses with the Holy Spirit residing within you, look closely at the negative words that describe the impact of lying…
False ~ Cutting ~ Exposed ~ Deceit ~ Evil ~ Wicked ~ Trouble ~ Detest
I would caution the heart whose life is filled with lies, it’s time to repent and give your heart to the One who can wipe the slate clean, where the lies can be cleared away and truth can prevail. Because in this lying state of mind the father of lies is who controls your heart, your tongue… so hear this… this is a prompting of the Holy Spirit to flee from the devil and give your heart over to the Lord. It is very clear in John 8:44 where the lying spirit comes from, you should want no part of it.
“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Okay… I believe I have made my point. What is your heart telling you? Are you one that has trouble with telling the truth? Have you damaged relationships because of consistent lies? Maybe it’s time to finally give your heart over to your Father in Heaven who loves you so much, He wants to fill your heart with truth from here on out. Give your heart to the Lord.
Now let’s look at the flip side to the lying, deceitful heart…
- An honest witness tells the truth
- The words of the wise bring healing
- Truthful words stand the test of time
- Joy fills hearts that are planning peace
- No harm comes to the godly
- The LORD delights in those who tell the truth
Well, doesn’t that feel better! My heart yearns to fall into the category these verses speak of, and what a difference from how the LORD feels too! From detesting the liar to delighting in those who tell the truth. I would much rather have the Lord be delighted in me than to ever be detested! When the Holy Spirit resides within you, He takes over your heart, mind, and soul, filling you with all truth, love, honor. It becomes second nature to want to live a life of truth. So now let’s look closely at the words representing a truthful spirit…
Honest ~ Truth ~ Wise ~ Healing ~ Joy ~ Peace ~ Godly ~ Delight
I can say without any hesitation, this is the list I want my heart to live out! My prayer would be that it’s your desire as well. Think about these verses the next time your heart wrestles with telling the truth or you feel that need to pass off a “little white lie,” because even the smallest untruth can be hurtful to the person you’re lying to. If truth becomes your heart, mind, and soul you will never have to worry about a lie being exposed.
Truth always wins. Jesus is truth. The Holy Spirit will always lead us to the truth. Choose today who you will serve, the father of lies, or the Father of Truth. For me, the choice is an easy one. My heartfelt prayer is that you will choose the Father of Truth.
~AMEN~