TRUTHFUL ALL THE TIME -- Devotional for November 9, from "Good Seeds"

Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with your neighbor. (Ephesians 4:25)

There is a verse that is closely related to this one, not in subject matter, but in concept: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21). Just as it is one thing to be on the defensive and not let evil overtake you, and quite another to go on the offensive with a frontal attack on that evil with the weapons of righteousness, so it is a very long stride forward from just not telling lies to coming out with pure truth. As is always the case in the Christian life, it’s not merely what we don’t do, but what we DO do, that counts! Many of us grew up in a culture of restriction. As Christian teenagers our witness revolved mostly around the worldly activities we were not allowed to indulge in. In time I came to understand that such a lifestyle did not fit well with the I Peter 3:15 model of witnessing, to “be ready always to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you.” The world will not readily seek the restricted Christian life. But when unbelievers observe a greater and deeper joy in people who achieve it apart from the typical stimulations and indulgences, you can be sure they’re going to be curious. Christians should be known for what they do and what they are, far more than merely for what they don’t do, and what they are not. And what real Christians do is tell the truth, and what they are is reliable to the core in genuine honesty. As much as those around us may make fun of us for our restrictive and silly religion (their words), when the chips are down maybe we will be the ones they will turn to for help – and for truth. A Christian should be one who never has to add reassurances to his words with phrases like, “I really mean it; I kid you not; I swear I’m telling the truth.” Why would a person have to swear, as with his hand on his heart, or on a Bible – or on his grandmother’s grave!? Only because he knows (and others also know) that he often is not entirely truthful. Most people are like the little boy who cried wolf: they wouldn’t call it lies that they were telling, just stories, you know, to add color to life. “I was just joking, just teasing, just playing with you – so don’t get all bent out of shape about it!” The trouble with such people is that they cannot be believed even when they are telling the truth. That’s why they have to plead with you to believe them this time. We must be truthful to the point that we can be believed all the time. “Let you yes be yes and your no be no,” says James (5:12). There are times when we do not blurt out everything we know – that’s wisdom; that’s discretion. But when we speak, let it always be “the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me God!”