The Odor of Mendacity

 

THE ODOR OF MENDACITY

    The judge in a recent court trial wrote a decision which included the phrase, "the odor of mendacity," referring to the apparent lies told by the defendant in the trial.  The definition of mendacity is "untruthfulness; lying."

    I believe the judge in the case in question was trying to dress up his pronouncement of lies by using big words to cover the stink of the word "liar."  Some lies stink to high Heaven, while others have been doused by the cheap perfume of partial truths and fancy words until we're not quite sure why the statement has an off-smell to it.  It's the lies that are packaged in pretty paper that confuse and even convince people that they are truth.  How many times in life have we fallen for a well-spoken lie, mistaking it for truth?

    In the picture above, I'm playing out a part and here's what it's saying:  I've just become aware that I'm being followed by a big scary monster with sharp teeth and a vicious bite.  This horrible creature with glowing eyes wants to devour me and if I'm not careful, he might succeed.  But, notice, although I'm rightfully wary of this creature - and he does give me the shivers -- I'm not panicking.  I've seen this ugly mug before; he's been chasing after me since my earliest memories.  He's not usually so blatant in his attacks, preferring to approach me in softer disguises  -- sometimes even appearing as an angel of light, if you can believe it!

     So, what was it about this particular day that caught my attention and when I turned quickly I caught him in his true form?  Hmmm....I think it was a particularly nasty smell - oh, I know -- it was the odor of mendacity that wafted toward me.  I remember Jesus speaking about the devil in John 8:44, saying, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it."

       Knowledge is power and since I know that I've a demon at my heels waiting to pounce and I know the One Who can handle him, I say the "magic" words, "Jesus, help me!" and the creature disappears.  "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world," 1 John 4:4.  Knowing that the Spirit of Almighty God dwells within me and that He's greater and more powerful than all the demons and their wicked master, I can walk through this world without fear because "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and of a sound mind," 2 Timothy 1:7.

     

      "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name...And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one, for Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.  Amen," Matthew 6:9 & 13.

Note two Bible verses:  "For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing if hs ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works," 2 Corinthians 11:14-15.

    "So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world: he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him," Revelation 12:9.