Health Hazard Warning
Following the April issue of "Toward the Mark" it seems appropriate to warn readers of some serious things today. One of these things, common today, is a disease - we shall call it "Telling Lies." It is a disease which has reached pandemic dimension, yet it is a disease often undiagnosed. It can sometimes be detected even at the earliest age. Psalm 58:3 says, "They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies." The infant learns early on that a cry quickly brings help. Well, of course, this can be very good. Care and action may be imperative; a missed call can be disastrous. But sometimes it can be discovered that the child just wants company. Then a judicious refusal, a closed door perhaps, will bring sleep to the infant and peace to the household.
But of course there are lies of all dimensions; small, sometimes called "white lies," and larger lies, not only in ordinary conversations, but also invading such areas as business and politics, and also, alas, extending to the Lord’s sphere (i.e., Translations of the Scriptures, preaching and teaching in its various forms.) The word "pseudo" means "false," and it is linked with false apostles, brethren, churches, prophets, teachers and witnesses. To repeat, this disease is very wide-spread today. It is world-wide.
It is important to trace the source from which this evil stream flows. John 8:44 tells us the devil is a liar from the beginning, and the father of it. The first mention of it, in Genesis 3, states that the woman was beguiled, and sin entered the world. In Psalm 116:11 we learn all men are liars. In Titus 1:12 the Cretans are always liars, and sometimes we meet people who find it easier to tell lies than to speak the truth.
But happily (what a relief) we find ONE who can say "I am the truth" (Jn. 14:6) and who can say, speaking of His Father, "Thy word is truth" (Jn. 17:7). "No lie is of the truth (1 Jn. 2:21). We build our faith on the impregnable rock of Holy Scripture, a sure foundation indeed.
The Apostle Paul exhorts us to "speak truth every one with his neighbor" (Eph. 4:25), and in the Armor (Eph. 6:14) the loins are to be girt about with truth. We read in 2 Thessalonians 1:10 some have not received the love of the truth. Our security is to receive and be established in the truth. It purifies the soul (1 Pe. 1:22).
Stand fast in Christ, ah yet again,
He teaches all the band.
If human efforts are in vain,
In HIM it is we stand.
This is how victory is to be gained.
