To Tell the Truth
People lie to get ahead all the time.
John Edwards lied about the mistress he had on the campaign trail. Now, he's facing a criminal trial.
Pete Rose lied to the commissioner of baseball, as well as millions of fans, saying he never bet on baseball. The Commissioner at the time, Bart Giamatti, wanted to resolve it quietly, perhaps just suspending him for a year, but Rose denied his involvement. He is now banned from baseball for life, including induction the professional baseball hall of fame.
Richard Nixon, the President of the United States, lied about his involvement with the Watergate break-in and cover-up. Eventually, he resigned in disgrace, having been the only President in United State's history to resign from the office.
All of these people were caught in their lies. Their lies entrapped them. The loose ends of their false stories tripped them up and became their undoing.
Lies leave loose ends. Someone knows the truth. Some document tells a different story. Some event is different than we describe it. Loose ends prove to be the unravelling of our lies and bring us down.
That's what Paul addressed in Ephesians 6:14. While describing the Armor of God all believers must wear, he starts with the belt of truth.
In the Roman military uniform, the belt played a crucial role - it tightened the clothes so there would be no loose ends. In close quarters combat, loose ends could be deadly. You could trip, or worst yet, an enemy could grab loose clothing and drag you into his sword or dagger. In a fight, you didn't want loose clothing getting in the way, so you tightened up your uniform with a belt.
In the spiritual battles we face, it's close quarters combat. Lies, rumors, innuendos, and character assaults always leave us bloodied, angry and personally spent. If you've ever dealt in spiritual warfare, you know it's not a long-range attack, but is in your face, hurtful, and, most decidedly, unfair.
In those fights, sometimes the only defense we have is the truth. When people make up lies and rumors and attempt to destroy your credibility (and thus the credibility of Jesus who lives within you), you have to stand firm in the truth so you can withstand the spiritual battle against you.
Jesus said it best. "The truth will set you free."
Sometimes truth is all we have. That is why it is so vital to abide in truth and remove one possible stumbling block to your faith.
It's no wonder Paul started with truth. It is the core of our faith and the one thing you simply can't compromise if you want to abide with Christ.
John Edwards lied about the mistress he had on the campaign trail. Now, he's facing a criminal trial.
Pete Rose lied to the commissioner of baseball, as well as millions of fans, saying he never bet on baseball. The Commissioner at the time, Bart Giamatti, wanted to resolve it quietly, perhaps just suspending him for a year, but Rose denied his involvement. He is now banned from baseball for life, including induction the professional baseball hall of fame.
Richard Nixon, the President of the United States, lied about his involvement with the Watergate break-in and cover-up. Eventually, he resigned in disgrace, having been the only President in United State's history to resign from the office.
All of these people were caught in their lies. Their lies entrapped them. The loose ends of their false stories tripped them up and became their undoing.
Lies leave loose ends. Someone knows the truth. Some document tells a different story. Some event is different than we describe it. Loose ends prove to be the unravelling of our lies and bring us down.
That's what Paul addressed in Ephesians 6:14. While describing the Armor of God all believers must wear, he starts with the belt of truth.
In the Roman military uniform, the belt played a crucial role - it tightened the clothes so there would be no loose ends. In close quarters combat, loose ends could be deadly. You could trip, or worst yet, an enemy could grab loose clothing and drag you into his sword or dagger. In a fight, you didn't want loose clothing getting in the way, so you tightened up your uniform with a belt.
In the spiritual battles we face, it's close quarters combat. Lies, rumors, innuendos, and character assaults always leave us bloodied, angry and personally spent. If you've ever dealt in spiritual warfare, you know it's not a long-range attack, but is in your face, hurtful, and, most decidedly, unfair.
In those fights, sometimes the only defense we have is the truth. When people make up lies and rumors and attempt to destroy your credibility (and thus the credibility of Jesus who lives within you), you have to stand firm in the truth so you can withstand the spiritual battle against you.
Jesus said it best. "The truth will set you free."
Sometimes truth is all we have. That is why it is so vital to abide in truth and remove one possible stumbling block to your faith.
It's no wonder Paul started with truth. It is the core of our faith and the one thing you simply can't compromise if you want to abide with Christ.
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