Acceptable words

One simply cannot express the absolute necessity for honesty. It’s a critical character quality. It makes the difference between others trusting or not trusting the validity of our word. It is one of the BIG TEN! You shall not lie (Exodus 20:13). But, all too often it is not just the deeply inaccurate “little white lie” wrongfully so-called, it is also the personal, intentional, mis-remembering of details and facts. The person doing this sort of thing may believe that they are protecting themselves from harm or pain, but in fact, they are simply delaying in many cases the inevitable consequences of sin. The Bible warns, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

Exaggeration is another way that this direct command from God is smashed by those so inclined, yet, God tells us what we should do in our communication with others. Exaggeration goes beyond just big fish stories, it involves embellishing the facts of everyday life to suit one’s perceived reality or to bolster one’s ego. Jesus said, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37). When we allow ourselves “creative license” to guide how others will perceive us or something that we did, we are actually falling prey to the evil one – Satan the devil. “We know that whoever is born [or begotten is a more accurate translation] of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one” (1 John 5:18-19). If we do not sin, we keep or preserve ourselves. This is contrast to not preserving or really – discarding ourselves. When we sin, and lying is sin, we are selling ourselves short and actually treating our lives like garbage. We are not seeing the eternal transcendent purpose for our lives, that of becoming Kings and Priests ruling with Christ (Revelation 5:10) and being the sons and daughters of God forever and ever (2 Corinthians 6:18). God will not allow liars into His kingdom, and instead they will, if not repented of, have their lives destroyed through fire. “But the cowardly, unbelieving…and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). We must not allow ourselves to resist the incredible purpose that God has extended to us, if we will just believe. We have an incredible destiny ahead of us.

So what should we do if we are having trouble keeping our words travelling down the riverbed of truth? “These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace” (Zechariah 8:16). Our words should be words of truth and our judgment should be in truth – not skewing the picture to fit our own agenda, desires, or values. The truth is the truth, reality is reality – and we must not bend reality to our perspective. We must, instead, look to the word of God to show us what is truth. This will enable us to have right judgment and decision making based on wisdom, truth, and honesty – with ourselves – and with others. Let’s let every word be established in righteousness: the keeping of God’s Law! King Solomon, the likely author of the book of Ecclesiastes, said, “The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright–words of truth” (Ecclesiastes 12:10). His words were found acceptable…let ours be the same!