Always Tell the Truth

     
'You desire truth in the inward parts...' Psalm 51:6 NKJV

I love this picture of our little dog Shaggy because it says really? Our boys went into our little pool one day and they decided that Shaggy would love to swim. Truth be told little Shaggy really didn't want to swim and as he was taking his breath he looked up at me and I snapped this shot. It's getting harder and harder to know what the truth is any more. How as a believer can you walk in truth? How can we desire truth in our inward spirits? The Bible says, '...Nor was any deceit in [Christ's] mouth.' (Isaiah 53:9 NIV) Gods desire for us is no have deceit, and if he has His way with us, none will be found in us either. We can't disguise the truth because God already knows us. God doesn't seek to minimise our deception, but to eliminate it altogether. He is blunt about dishonesty. 'No one who is dishonest will live in My house...' (Psalm 101:7 NCV) Paul lists the types of people who will not inherit the Kingdom of God - those who sin sexually, worship idols, get drunk, rob people, and - lie about others (1 Corinthians 6:910). 'You mean my fibbing and flattering stir the same heavenly anger as adultery and aggravated assault?' Apparently so. God views fudging on income tax in the same way as He views kneeling before idols. 'Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, But those who deal truthfully are His delight.' (Proverbs 12:22 NKJV) Why the tough stance? Because dishonesty is absolutely contrary to the character of God (Hebrews 6:18). It's not that God won't lie, or has chosen not to lie, but that He cannot lie. A dog can't fly, and at this point I know little Shaggy wanted to, but God can't lie. When He makes a covenant, He keeps it. When He makes a statement, He means it. When He proclaims the truth, we can believe it. Even, 'if we are not faithful, [God] remains faithful, because He cannot be false to Himself.' (2 Timothy 2:13 GNT) With God, the truth is not a grey area, it's black and white. So if you're serious about walking with Him and pleasing Him, you must commit to 'the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.' By the way, I rescued Shaggy and took him out of his misery, and in a since, he did fly away...lol You are loved!