Rejecting Truth

…because they have rejected the instructions of the LORD and have not kept his statutes. The lies that their ancestors followed have led them astray. – Amos 2.4, CSB

Living a lie comes from one’s deceptive desire to manipulate others for personal gain or to protect oneself from getting caught for a wrong they’ve done. Again, it’s at the expense of someone else. The lie originates with that person and is driven by that person’s pursuit of what they desire at the expense of others’ well-being. And God hates this. Proverbs 6.16-19 says, “The LORD hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers” (Christian Standard Bible, emphasis added). 

Lies are destructive and of no benefit. They always have victims. Some are hurt in the moment because of the lie told, while others are hurt in the long term because of the lie they believed to be true. The irresponsibility of the liar victimizes them. The lie has been passed down from person to person, from generation to generation, only to leave a pile of hurt and destruction in its wake.

The people of Judah were warned through the prophet Amos of the punishment that awaited them. One of those things was that they were led astray by the lies that their ancestors followed. However, God held them responsible for this. But how could he hold them responsible if they had been led astray by the lies of those before them? Because the same truth that was available to their ancestors was available to them. The Lord’s rebuke of Judah did not start with believing a lie. Instead, it began with their rejection of the truth. God’s instructions were available to them just like they were for their ancestors. This was not them being duped. Instead, this was them rejecting God’s instructions and disobeying his statutes so they could continue to live out the lies of their ancestors.

In response to this, I asked the Lord this question: What lies have I accepted to be true that have caused me to disregard and disobey your truth? But maybe a better question is this: What part of your truth have I disregarded that leaves me living according to lies? Is it any wonder why truth is seen by our culture today as relative? It seems easier to hold to that conviction, all the while not recognizing that that truth is subjective contradicts the nature of subjective truth. To have a conviction about anything that does not agree with everyone else is to hold to your truth as being true. To state that there is no such thing as absolute truth is to make an absolute truth statement that then conveys your conviction that you really do believe in absolute truth. And why this is so important is that to stay away from living lies, we must believe in truth to live it out. And to do that, we need to know what the truth is.

Truth begins and ends with Jesus. He claimed to be the truth (John 14.6). He’s not a truth but truth itself. Therefore, he’s the standard of all that is true. And since he’s the standard of truth, we look to his words so that we can live out what Jesus says. To stay away from the lies that come at us from all sides, and to keep from speaking our own lies into the lies that come from all sides, we need to hold to his truth. We need to pray these same words from the unknown psalmist.

My life is down in the dust; give me life through your word. I told you about my life, and you answered me; teach me your statutes. Help me understand the meaning of your precepts so that I can meditate on your wonders. I am weary from grief; strengthen me through your word. Keep me from the way of deceit and graciously give me your instruction. I have chosen the way of truth; I have set your ordinances before me. I cling to your decrees; LORD, do not put me to shame. I pursue the way of your commands, for you broaden my understanding. – Psalm 119.25-32, CSB