Message summary: The Lord’s truth and declaration of what is right remains a steadfast rock in the ever shifting sands of that which we're exposed to. We have this truth expressed to us in the Holy Scriptures, which is an absolute foundation of dependability!

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“I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right” (Isaiah 45:19). "You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth" (Psalm 52:3). "I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments" (Colossians 2:4).

This coming Sunday I will be teaching our Crossroads Adult Bible Fellowship class (Sunday School). Our Scripture portion will be taken from Colossians 2 which includes our third daily text, "I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments" (Colossians 2:4).

Someone is constantly trying to trick and deceive us in one way or another; ultimately the great deceiver (Revelation 12:9) is behind it. His strategy makes this Biblical warning so timeless: "Let no one deceive you with empty words"  (Ephesians 5:6). "Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way" (2 Thessalonians 2:3).

Often I find myself muttering "Stop lying to me!" It's my verbal response to so many sources of deceitful input in my life, whether the deceiver can hear me or not. (Brooksyne's note: It's not always "muttering" sometimes it's "yelling"!)  For instance I received an email "courteously" informing me that my extended auto warranty is about to run out. Well, I never had an extended warranty on my automobile so how can it run out!

My email catches most of these and places them in a separate folder for review (which I rarely do) but I looked and saw several attempts at trickery such as one from "The WEBER Clans Gather" which would be of interest to me since my last name is Weber but alas, it had nothing to do with my family gathering.

We are increasingly subjected to lies; big lies and little lies; lies in government, business, media, and politics; lies in personal relationships and so many lies over the internet. These lies have exploded with artificial intelligence. And it will only get worse as people drift farther and farther from the ancient, firm foundation of God’s laws revealed to us through the Ten Commandments, specifically the ninth commandment which states, "Thou shall not bear false witness" (Exodus 20:16).

It is absolutely essential that we stay on our guard to determine who is lying and who is telling the truth by practicing discernment. We become wise in our discernment sometimes from trial through error but a better way of learning discernment is through prayer, biblical understanding, and by observing the character of one who is either telling the truth or lying. When confronted with two opposing stories by a youngster at school, the teacher will lean toward the one who has an honest reputation from day to day as opposed to the student who is lacking in trust.   

We need to equip ourselves with God’s truth to defend ourselves against the ever-increasing onslaught of cunning lies. We seek to live with God’s perspective and want to see the human condition through the filter of what is written in the Scriptures.

In the early chapters of Romans we have a panoramic view of man’s fallen, sinful condition. Three times the Greek phrase "ta alatheia" is used, which translates “the truth” (the definite article is very important). These verses describe man’s attitude toward the truth.

I readily see all three of these responses to the truth in our age:

Today in the workplace, in the political arena, through the media, including social media or in your own family, observe how this takes place and be on guard.  When we first hear a lie it takes little discernment, for we quickly recognize it to be false.

But when that same lie is repeated often, given a different spin, dressed up or promoted by famous personalities or someone who is asserted to be an "academic" or “educated” or an "expert" we can let our guard down. We can gradually become desensitized or indifferent to the truth. It’s one of Satan’s strategies in making our world more and more decadent. It’s also the reason why we must be vigilant in reading God’s Word so that our continual exposure to God’s truths keep us guarded against error, recognizing light from darkness.

Isaiah 45:19 is a majestic statement from the one true God. Although written in Scripture some 2,700 years ago it is always a present tense statement, for God does not change: “I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right.”

The Lord’s truth and declaration of what is right remains a steadfast rock in the ever shifting sands of that which we're exposed to. We have this truth expressed to us in the Holy Scriptures, which is an absolute foundation of dependability!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber