“….Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Have you heard of the Japanese Knotweed? It is a weed that at its origin grew along volcanoes in which the ash kept the weed in check, but now growing unabated in great Britain it has become a major problem. The Mirror reports this weed can grow up to 20cm (7.87 inches) a day. Its root system can grow through tarmac and concrete and its roots can grow down to a 3m (9ft. 10in.) depth. It has reportedly cost the UK L$166 million a year to control and though it doesn’t seed it only takes 0.8g for regrowth. *
This weed reminds me of how lying affects us. Not only does it affect our hearts and lives but those around us. The offense of lying goes deep into the heart and the only way to stop it is to dig it up at its roots. Lies can start small, what we might consider an innocent white lie, but then before we know it being dishonest becomes a part of one’s character. As parents, we have had to deal with the major issue of lying in our home as it seems our children have each turned to a pattern of lying in different phases of their lives. Interesting isn’t it…how sin doesn’t need to be taught. This just points to mans total depravity that we are born with.
If you have children I’m sure this scenario will be all too familiar. You hear a crash, something has spilled or broken and you come into the room to see your children standing there, for me it’s my three children, and you ask the question…how? Three children give the same I dunno answer. Three little lies. Or perhaps it was the blood curdling scream you heard followed by crying and two children running towards you- one crying their eyes out hurt and the other repeating “ I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it” and the question what happened hasn’t even came out of your mouth.
We’ve all been there and we all have our own stories to tell. Lying is a hard thing to deal with because it is a matter of the heart, its roots go deep. We have to teach our children (and know ourselves) what Gods word teaches us on the matter.
Lying in all forms (big and small) is a major issue. Not because I say it is but because God says it is. Lying is a sin and a dishonest person is displeasing to God. The Bible actually says the Lord hates a lying tongue (Proverbs 6:16-19). That’s pretty weighty. Here is what else the Bible has to say about liars…..
“lying lips are an abomination to the Lord…” (Proverbs 12:22)
“A false witness will not go unpunished and he who tells lies will perish” (Proverbs 19:9)
Jesus calls satan the father of lies. (John 8:44)
In James 3 we see that the tongue “is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” and that though it is a small member of our body, it can set ablaze a great forest. Lying is a dangerous and slippery slope. It is important to guard our hearts because what comes out of our mouth is from the overflow of our hearts. (Matthew 12:34, Luke 6:45, Proverbs 4:23) It’s not just about telling the truth because of the outward ramifications of telling a lie…. It is a matter of our heart attitude . Jeremiah 17:10 states, “ I the Lord search the heart and test the mind.”
Thankfully we aren’t lost in the ever-growing unstoppable knotweed of our evil hearts. 1John 1:9 says “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If we confess our sins he will forgive us and if we are in Christ we are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) The only way to change what is overflowing out of our mouths is to change the heart. But no matter how big a shovel we get, we can’t dig out the knotweed in our own hearts. In Ezekiel 36:26 it says “I will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you…” A heart must be transformed by God. Thankfully God has given us a way through Christ Jesus to be reconciled to him and transformed into a new creation. Jesus is standing there shovel in hand ready to uproot your old heart and give you a new one. Next time you are dealing with the issue of lying and the heart attitude be sure to not only share the importance of how deadly a sin it is, but the amazing gift that has been given in Christ to transform that heart if we look to Him.