JURONG OUTREACH - SEP 05

THE SIN OF LYING
4 Sep 05

Perhaps one of the most prominent sins is a misuse of the tongue, and that includes the sin of lying. There is much in God’s word relative to it. Included in the Biblical references are such phrases as “lying vanities” (Psa. 31:6), “lying lips” (Psa. 21:18; 120:2; Prov. 10:18; 12:22; 17:7), “lying tongue” (Psa. 109:2; Prov. 6:17; 12:19), “lying words” (Prov. 32:7; Jer. 7:4,8); “lying wonders” (2 Thess. 2:9).

Of all the references concerning lying, not one of them is complimentary. Other Biblical references include the appearance of the words “liar” and “liars” over 20 times. As we shall see in this article, those engaged in such will not be in heaven. Thus, it is a very serious matter. The word “lie” (according to Vine’s) is “a falsehood,” that which is “calculated to deceive,” “speaking falsely, to deceive by lies.”

Therefore, we are dealing with a deliberate and wilful perversion of truth for the express purpose of misleading. Such is accomplished in various ways. The most obvious means of lying is the telling of something we know is untruthful. Biblical examples can be found as Cain denied knowing the whereabouts of his brother Abel (Gen. 4). Another example is that of Peter denying his association with our Lord (Matt. 26). When we tell people we will do something, knowing all the time we are not going to do it, we have lied.

There are other ways of lying. The definition of the word involves the idea of deception. We often make statements which are not false in themselves, but the intent is to leave a wrong impression. Telling “half truths” is another way of lying. Perhaps the case of Abraham and Sarah would be a good example of this. Ananias and Sapphira would serve as a New Testament example. Even by our silence we could leave the wrong impression and deceive someone. With these ideas in mind, we should be impressed with the need to be extremely careful with our speech, actions, etc. that we do not deceive those with whom we have association.

We can further understand the seriousness of lying when we understand the source of it. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:44). Note Genesis 3 in this regard, as from the beginning he has proven John 8:44 to be the truth. Since it is of the devil and stirs the wrath of God, what would cause one to engage in lying? A number of reasons might be cited. In the case of Abraham and Sarah, fear was the obvious motivating force. Those who fear that others will learn of their conduct will often lie about it. In the case of Ananias and Sapphira, a desire to appear better than they actually were prompted their lying. Some have suggested that greed had a part in their lying as well. Those who absent themselves from the worship assemblies will often offer some excuse (actually lie) to try to justify their actions. Other causes could be added to this list. As we look further into the word of God, there are other reasons why lying should not be a part of one’s life. Among those things listed in Proverbs 6 that God hates is a “lying tongue” (v.16), and a “false witness that speaketh lies” (v.19). Not only does God hate such, “a righteous man hateth lying” (Prov. 13:5). The Psalmist said, “I hate and abhor lying” (Psa. 119:163).

It is also interesting to note those things with which lying is connected. Lying is connected with cursing, hatred, rebellion, destruction of the poor, corruption, swearing, killing and vanities. That one fact alone would cause the righteous person to avoid it.

The Psalmist also connects lying with the “mighty man” by saying that such a one “lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness” (Psa. 52:1-3).

Lying, as well as the things with which it is connected, is to be put away. “Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous”

(Psa. 31:18). “Wherefore, put away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another” (Eph. 4:25). Those who engage in lying are foolish. “He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool” (Prov. 10:18). “Remove from me the way of lying; and grant me thy law graciously” (Psa. 119:29).

The Bible is also very plain as to the ultimate fate of those who continue in lying. “...And all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone” (Rev. 21:8b).

According to the actions of many, lying is not as bad as some other sins. One who is found to be lying about a matter usually receives little correction or criticism compared to one who is found to be an adulterer or a murderer. Yet, in Paul’s list of the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21), those things we usually consider “less sinful” are right in the middle of the list. We must also note that the Bible does not make the usual distinction in lies that men make, such as, “little white lies” and other kinds of lies.

Can this problem be overcome in one’s life? Indeed it can. When it is our aim to “provide things honest in the sight of all men” (Rom. 12:17b), lying will be put out. When our thoughts are centered on “whatsoever things are honest” (Phil. 4:8), lying will be avoided. When we decide to “walk honestly toward them that are without” (1 Thess. 4:12a), lying will be absent from our lives.

One final admonition — “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matt. 12:37).

OUR HIDING PLACE
11 Sep 05

Some pioneers were making their way across one of the central states to a distant place that had been opened up for homesteading. They travelled in covered wagons drawn by oxen, and progress was necessarily slow. One day they were horrified to note a long line of smoke in the west, stretching for miles across the prairie. Soon it was evident that the dried grass was burning fiercely, and the fire was coming toward them rapidly. They had crossed a river the day before but it would be impossible to go back to that before the flames would be upon them. One man only seemed to have an understanding as to what should be done. He gave the command to set fire to the grass behind them. Then when a space was burned over, the whole company moved back upon it.

As the flames roared on toward them from the west, a little girl cried out in terror. "Are you sure we shall not all be burned up?" The leader replied, "My child, the flames CANNOT reach us HERE. . . . for we are standing "WHERE THE FIRE HAS BEEN!"

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). And, because of our sin, we are subject to His wrath. Yet, because of His love for us, God has provided a way of salvation.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were STILL sinners, Christ DIED for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be SAVED by His life."

Jesus “bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). He took the punishment for SIN for us.

On Him Almighty vengeance fell,
Which would have sunk a world to hell.
He bore it for a chosen race,
And thus becomes our Hiding Place .

-- Robert G. Lee

Shelter in the Time of Storm

The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,
A shelter in the time of storm.
Secure whatever ill betide,
A shelter in the time of storm.
 

A shade by day defense by night,
A shelter in the time of storm.
No fears alarm, no foes affright,
A shelter in the time of storm.

O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land;
O Jesus is a Rock in a weary land,
A shelter in the time of storm

HOPE!
18 Sep 05

The school system in a large city had a program to help children keep up with their schoolwork during stays in the city's hospitals. One day a teacher who was assigned to the program received a routine call asking her to visit a particular child. She took the child's name and room number and talked briefly with the child's regular class teacher.

"We're studying nouns and adverbs in his class now," the teacher said, "and I'd be grateful if you could help him understand them so he doesn't fall too far behind."

The hospital program teacher went to see the boy that afternoon. No one had mentioned to her that the boy had been badly burned and was in great pain. Upset at the sight of the boy, she stammered as she told him, 'I've been sent by your school to help you with nouns and adverbs." When she left she felt she hadn't accomplished much.

But the next day, a nurse asked her, "What did you DO to that boy?"

The teacher felt she must have done something wrong and began to apologize.

No, no," said the nurse. "You don't know what I mean. We've been worried about that little boy, but ever since yesterday, his whole attitude has changed. He's fighting back, responding to treatment. It's as though he's decided to LIVE!"

Two weeks later the boy explained that he had completely given up hope until the teacher arrived. Everything changed when he came to a simple realization. He expressed it this way: "They wouldn't send a teacher to work on nouns and adverbs with a DYING boy, would they?"

What made the difference in this little boy? In a word, "HOPE!" Feeling hopeless and helpless in his badly burned and painful condition, he found HOPE in the presence of the teacher.

What a lesson for US. . .

Due to our sin, WE are also hopeless and helpless! There is nothing that you and I can do in our own power to improve our condition. "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), and that leaves us with... NO HOPE, for "ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

But then the Teacher, Jesus Christ, came into this world to open a pathway back from sin's dark grip of DEATH. He demonstrated the reality of LIFE beyond the grave by His OWN resurrection from the dead and revealed the WAY to that LIFE giving us HOPE!

He said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). We have HOPE because. . . Jesus died on the cross to pay for our sins making our forgiveness available.

We access that HOPE by. . .
believing in Him (Acts 16:30-31), And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house,
repenting of our sins (Acts 17:30-31), And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
being baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
and then following Him faithfully (Revelation 2:10).Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

ACCESS TO HIGH PLACES
25 Sep 05

It has been said that during the Civil War, a man was sitting on a park bench in Washington, D.C. He was crying. His son had deserted his post in battle and was to be shot by a firing squad. So the father went to Washington hoping to talk to the President and tell his story and see if the President would intervene. But he couldn't get pass the front gate to the White House. He would go there and be denied access. So he sat crying, fearful about his son's impending death. Hundreds of people pass him, but no one noticed....

Finally, a small boy noticed him and saw him crying. The boy went up to the man and asked him what was going on. The man was barely able to talk, but told him about his son and what was going to happen. The boy was touched. He said, "Follow me." He walked up to the front gate, looked up at the soldiers guarding it and said, "It's okay. He's with me." The gate opened. The boy and the man marched right up to the front door of the White House, opened it and walked in. He knew exactly where the President was. He knocked on the door, and he was told the President was in a meeting with his cabinet members and generals discussing war strategy. But the little boy nudged his way through the room full of people, finally reached the President, and jumped up on his lap.

The conversation in the room ceased.

The boy said, "Daddy, I want you to meet a man. He needs your help."

The meeting stopped, everyone left the room, and the man was brought into the room so he could tell his story. After hearing the man’s plight, Lincoln took out his pen and signed a document. He handed it to the man. And written in bold letters it said:

“Presidential Pardon. Signed, Abraham Lincoln, President of the U.S.”

The man's SON had been pardoned! His tears of sadness became tears of joy. As he was leaving he turned to the President and asked, "Why did you do this for me?" Lincoln replied, "I did it because my SON took an interest in your situation!"

Due to our sin, YOU and I are much like the young soldier that deserted his post in battle. WE have sinned, and the wages of sin is DEATH (Romans 6:23).  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Yet, both the Son (as well as the Father) "took an interest in OUR situation." Because of His great love for us, Jesus died on the cross so that WE might receive FULL PARDON for OUR sins (1 Peter 2:24). Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

And through Jesus, God's only Son, WE too have DIRECT ACCESS to HIGH PLACES because He EVER LIVES to intercede for us at the right hand of God (Romans 8:34-39)

God will grant this "DIVINE PARDON" to those who: place their trust in Him (Hebrews 11:6), But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him.

repent of sin (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death,

confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

and are baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38). Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

He will CONTINUE TO PARDON those who CONTINUE TO FOLLOW Jesus for the rest of their lives (1 John 1:7).But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Have YOU accepted God’s pardon?