The truth will set you free

“The truth will set you free” John 8:32 is one of the most profound words in the Bible. How many people are stuck by living with small or even big lies? 

Some people speak about white lies which people may say to prevent an argument. Or to not hurt someone’s feelings. (One may call this being tactful too.) 

Injustices can also be lies that we never thought to be lies. Like thinking that there is a difference between races or genders. No one is on a higher or lower hierarchy before God. Being of more or less value is a lie. This is a very hurtful approach and with this opinion one will treat your fellow human beings with less respect.

Another lie we have learned from the media is that beauty counts. We kill ourselves by wanting to look like models and cannot accept that we are actually beautifully made no matter how and what the media is blaring out. 

This doesn’t mean that we do not have to take care of our bodies, it means that we should not feel unhappy about not being a size 6 as we are indeed a beautiful size 16.

Another lie we may be living by is to say one thing and do exactly the opposite. We see this often in politics where the governments make promises to their people but when they are reminded of their promises they cannot ‘remember’ their promise. It is a lie to over promise and to under perform. 

The opposite can be the case too where people overwork themselves to proof to themselves and the world that they are incredible because deep down they feel inadequate. This is not true. They are amazing people and don’t need to prove anything to anyone to be accepted. 

Lies are twisted and crooked and to realize them takes wisdom.

Even churches can be lying to their flocks like making them believe that they can buy or work for their salvation. This does not mean that one can do selfish things and think that God will forgive you anyway. It means that we live from thankfulness for God’s Grace and the goodness will follow.

Parents can say things to their kids they learned from their parents which may have been meant well but are not true. 

The biggest lies are told to us by Satan who keeps reminding us of our fears and shortcomings in strange and crooked ways especially our unworthiness before God. 

The list of lies can be as long as an endless corridor. We can take the time to write up all the lies we have lived by and need to be freed from, to live again.

If we take this wisdom to our community, work or even government we may find  that it creates an attitude of cleaning house which we need today and every day in the future. 

To be free and live a life of joy the Bible says we should get any lie or dishonesty out into the open. 

If there is anything  we may be carrying deep in our heart we can take it to the foot of the cross and ask God to forgive us our blindness and open our eyes to the truth. 

Sometimes we may not even know that we do or say hurtful things. We can also ask God to reveal them to us and to step up to ask His forgiveness for those too. 

Let’s be  awake and alert and look at the lies we have grown to believe to be true and ..let them go. 

“Lord open my eyes so I may see the truth about myself, my children, my family, my friends, my work, my community, my church and my government.

Forgive me and all around me for believing in injust and untruthful things. 

Thank you for freeing and cleaning my thoughts and my heart and restoring a steadfast spirit within me.”Amen