BBD 10.12.05 Reasons for Telling the Truth
Posted by: wrather <wrather@...>
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The Burning Bush Devotional
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10.12.05
Reasons for Telling the Truth
You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. - Leviticus
19:11.
Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his
deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to
the image of Him who created him. - Colossians 3:9-10.
Laura Crews (18-years-old) according to news reports had arranged a date on
the Internet but got cold feet somewhere along the way. Laura lives in
Kentucky and had planned to fly to Kansas City to meet her Internet
boyfriend. To escape from the date she told a few lies. She told her
boyfriend that she had been kidnapped, raped, stabbed, and shot. The
boyfriend's mother after learning of the terrible news called police and the
police did their best to try to find out the truth. The truth was that Laura
had lied and she has been charged with filing a false police report. The
good news is that Laura is okay and was only caught in the web of her lies.
Reason # 1 for telling the truth is that the Bible tells us not to lie or to
deceive (deal falsely). Laura can now testify to the obvious need to live
this out as the Bible has commanded.
Reason # 2 for telling the truth is that we usually become caught up in our
lie in some way altering our lives for the worse.
Reason # 3 for telling the truth is that sometimes we are not found out and
no one discovers the truth about our lie. As a result, we have to live the
lie constantly guarding our lips from telling the truth. We have to live
with the guilt of knowing we have deceived and lied to others. The burden
grows and grows upon us as the years go by.
Reason # 4 for telling the truth is to save ourselves from all of the
embarrassment. As with Laura, in the 21st Century someone is likely to put
it on the Internet, write about it in a blog, or even take a photo of the
truth with their cell phone. Your life could very well become defined by the
lie that was told for years and years.
Reason # 5 for telling the truth is to avoid arrest, fines, attorney fees,
even jail or prison time. Laura may be able to have her charges dismissed
since she did not personally contact the police. However, countless other
people have been caught up in legal problems because of not telling the
truth. Some have lied about their educational credentials and signed a legal
oath, which has criminal penalties. Others have lied on other legal
documents, which also can result in criminal penalties.
Reason # 6 for telling the truth is that you feel good about yourself and do
not have to worry about what would have happened if you had told a lie
instead.
Telling the truth may not be easy and may result in temporary embarrassment
but it is always the best path to take.
What if you are already caught up in the web of a lie or lies you have told?
You need to begin to inform all who know of the lies, of the truth, and to
rectify if possible any harm caused by the lie or lies.
Telling the truth may be hard at times but it will be much easier to live
with yourself. Instead of trying to keep your lies straight and to remember
what you have told one person or another you can just tell the truth. So,
when in doubt, just tell the truth!
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