Truth versus Lies

 

TRUTH VERSUS LIES

This statue of an ugly demon at the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida, represents for us the evil ugliness in the mind of Satan - the father of lies.

Jesus was teaching in the temple when He said, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free,” John 8:32.

You would think that most people want to know the truth, but sadly, too many people in this world willingly accept lies.  Why?  Perhaps because the lie sounds good -- more acceptable and easier to process than the truth.  Or, maybe the lie is what they want to hear and so they don’t question, or even care that it’s not true.

 The greatest danger is when the lie being told relates to salvation.  People believing such lies don’t realize they’re captives of the enemy, blinded by his lies.  Paul wrote, “….the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God,” 2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV

 The god of this world that Paul speaks of is Satan – our enemy.  When Jesus spoke of Satan, He said, “When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies,” John 8:44 ESV

 There are countless lies spread by the enemy.  Like poison seeds, he flings out feelings of, fear, jealousy, bitterness, lust, discontent, hatred, selfishness, worthlessness – and the list goes on.  The enemy also seeks to dilute God’s Word by claiming if you just do the best you can, treat others kindly, go to a church of some sort, and do good deeds, then, of course, you’ll go to heaven someday.

 Below, is a poem written by a precious sister in Christ who went to be home with the Lord just last month (June 20).  In spite of the fact that she was battling brain cancer, she still wanted to share the truth of God and encourage others of His love and truth when she wrote these words.

 It’s A Lie

Everyone says all religion’s the same, the fast track to the gods above,

It's so pleasing to the ear to hear them say, "In this world, all you need is love

Everyone says do lots of good works, and don’t worry about God’s plan.

Others will praise all the efforts you made, impress God the best that you can.

Everyone says how you feel is what counts, don’t let the notion of sin mar your day,

Just be happy and smile with a song in your heart and make sure you live life your way.

“It’s a lie, it’s a lie,” that’s what Jesus would say; He wants us to know there’s a better way.

"It's a lie, it's a lie," that's what Jesus would say; He wants us to know there's a better way.

                                                                                             Poem by Debra Cunningham

                                                                                    

 Here’s the Truth that will set you free: 

“I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me,” John 14:6.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast,” Ephesians 2:5-6.

 

The Word of God - Illustrated

 

The Word of God - Illustrated

It's heartening to know that the Bible is the best selling book of all time with an estimated 5 billion copies sold.  Paul tells us, "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit...and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart," Hebrews 4:12.

I enjoy offering pictures I've taken to illustrate verses from the Bible.  They remind us that the Word is relevant to all times and seasons.  And, they can be fun too!

"And Jesus said to him, 'Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, 

but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head,'" Luke 9:58

"So Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt, and the frogs

came up and covered the land of Egypt," Exodus 8:6.

"He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay 

back what he has given," Proverbs 19:17

"And the desert shall rejoice and blossom

 as the rose," Isaiah 35:1

"The lizard skillfully grasps with its hands, and it is in

kings' palaces," Proverbs 30:28

"Like a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a lovely woman

who lacks discretion," Proverbs 11:22

When the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke His disciples when they were

praising Him, Jesus said, "I tell you that if these should keep 

silent, the stones would immediately cry out," Luke 19:40

This last verse reminds me of a passage in the book of Job, when God tells Job how all of nature knows who He is and praises Him by their very existence:  "But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you, who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?" Job 12:7-11.

~~~Photos were taken:

--Church doorway with verse - the French Huguenot Church in Charleston, SC

--Fox - asleep in my back flower bed

--Frog - a blue poison dart frog in Raleigh Science Museum, NC

--Me & Statue - in Bend, Oregon; sculpture by Richard Beyer

--Pink Roses - in a palace garden in Cordoba, Spain

--Lizard - is a Fiji banded iguana in the Norfolk Zoo, VA

--Swine statue - in Winchester, VA

--Stone wall - also in Winchester, VA