Dear BPCWAians, Who are we, really, in matters of faith and living? We have just finished both our English and Chinese camps. Holding faith and a good conscience is crucial to avoid a shipwrecked life. Last week, we looked at what being true means. This is a common misunderstanding that people have of the ninth commandment. It is more than not just speaking lies. Instead, the ninth commandment is about being wholly sincere and honest, in all our speech, actions, thoughts, and intentions. The 6th commandment about killing isn’t just about murder as the people of the world think of it, but is about the righteous promotion of life. Similarly, this 9th commandment about lying is ultimately about the righteous promotion of truth. When you do so, you will have a good conscience before God and man. The saddest state is a Christian who has lived a lie for so long, he or she begins to live and believe that lie and refuses to believe the truth about themselves. We also learned from this morning’s message that we need to ask if we have a deceitful heart. This week, we will continue to look at several examples of how we often do not abide in truth.

How we typically fall into the trap of not abiding in truth.

5) The blame game. A common practice is to push blame on someone or something else for our actions, removing any blame from ourselves. The world is often ready to blame “bad behaviour” on external factors. For example, someone who commits a crime may blame it on an abusive home environment that has scarred them. Is an abusive home environment wrong? Certainly. Can bad memories of this home environment continue to stay in the mind long after it is over? Certainly. But for the regenerate Christian, having a bad background does not mean that you have to sin. In salvation, God has broken the power of sin in a Christian’s life through Christ Jesus (1 Cor 15:57). We do not have to sin. And when we do sin, it is our own sin, because we have chosen to sin. Unless we are honest with ourselves, we cannot abide in truth. Instead, we will always feel that no one understands us, the world is against us, etc. What begins with finding something or someone to blame then gradually becomes a “reality” to us, excusing our own sin.

6) Personal agendas. Personal motives and agendas underlying what we do can cause us to not abide in the truth. We may seek information from others, giving the excuse that we want to pray for the person or to encourage the person. When actually in truth, the reason you want the information isn’t really because of genuine care for the other person. Instead, it is about being seen to be “in the know”, or for popularity or for some other selfish reason – to gain a following, or for self-promotion, or to attain some personal benefits. There have been people who seemed to be so caring and thoughtful, all the time going out of their way to give things to others. However, in time, this person’s character was revealed, when all these “good works” were done to buy others’ trust and have others think well of the person. Even in our loving actions, let it be done “in deed and in truth.” (1John 3:18)! Have we not seen politicians whose positions and promises of “what’s right” gradually change depending on what is popular with the crowd at that point in time? Seeking to be popular, desiring to be liked, can often cause us to not face what our true motives really are. Sadly, putting on a front becomes what we abide in naturally. Eventually, people will recognise what we truly are, but we ourselves cannot see what others see. That is a sad shipwreck. Are you truly what you portray yourself to be?

7) Insincerity. We may promise to do something to help someone. But although we deliver what we promised, we are actually not doing so according to the spirit of the intent, nor to help the person. We could have done it to just finish off the task, to say that we’ve done it. But the task may have been done with little or no regard as to whether the task resolved the problem, helped the person, or served the purpose for which it was intended. Or, sales reps may say, “This is specially designed and personalised for you”, when he had just said the very same thing with the very same product to the customer just before you. How do you feel whenever you hear such “promises”? “How fake!” is  the immediate thought in our mind. We have been studying during our Friday fellowships on unfeigned love. Oh, how we can make it look like we care for someone, when it is merely to keep up with appearances but without a pure heart behind it. Or we can even say that we are doing something for God’s  glory – when it is for our own glory. When we do such things, we will lose the trust of others. It is a poor testimony when we exhibit such ways.

The consequences of being untrue. 1) Changes your character. God called Satan the father of lies in John 8:44, and that Satan “abode not in the truth”. This meant that Satan left the truth. He also does not like to be truthful. That is the character of Satan the Devil. Yes, if you are saved, you will not lose your salvation. You may think that I will hold on to the truths of the faith (which you will do, if you are truly saved). It doesn’t mean that as long as you hold on to the doctrinal truths you have kept the ninth commandment. Do not think that lying or hypocrisy does not change you. Over time, if you get used to getting away with deceptiveness and insincerity, you will behave like the devil instead of like Christ. 2) Affects your relationships. Others will eventually also see through you. When you are dishonest and insincere, people will eventually know what you truly are inside. What will happen when we are habitually untruthful in our relationships, or dealings with others or situations? We will end up saying things, doing things, and behaving in ways that we do not see how ridiculous, lame, and fake our statements, explanations, and “reasons” are. We will be blinded, but others’ eyes will be opened about us. 3) Makes us deceptive and unfaithful. One who is untrue cannot be depended upon to do something for God’s glory. Things are done or truth is withheld for self-gain or self-glory. Some of us can be fully dependable only when we get the recognition for doing it. When we do something in which our name is not tied directly to it, we are not dependable. 4) Affects others’ trust in you. Rightly, as the camp theme song summarises it – “I must be true, for there are those who trust me”. If we aren’t true, we can impact others. One who isn’t faithful cannot be trusted. While we know that there may be an occasional hiccup here and there, the regular lack of dependability affects relationships between Christians. To trust our leaders, they must be people who fear God and will be men of truth (Ex 18:21). A good conscience is expected of everyone in church – those in service, and those around us. Without truth, honesty, and sincerity, the work of God’s kingdom will be affected because our Lord’s kingdom is a kingdom of truth and love.

Please remember, lying is not just not telling the truth, but it is ultimately about being deceptive. It is crucial to remember that the ninth commandment is about being truthful, not just avoiding lying. Satan’s native tongue is the language of misleading, insincerity, excuses, and false fronts. When we do  not take heed, we will have our conscience seared with the hot iron called untruthfulness.

Yours in our Lord’s service,

Pastor