Misleading Others
Everyone is guilty of having deceived, misled, or lied to others. This is seen in the apostle Paul’s use of Ps 5:9 (“there is nothing truthful or reliable in what they say”) and at Rom 3:13 (“they keep deceiving others”) – where the Rom 3 context is showing that all are guilty before God. Furthermore, lying is part of the sinful nature which we all have (Col 3:9-10).
Lying harms us. We become less trustworthy with the result that our relationships suffer. They pervert formation of healthy character. We become less like Jesus, who is the Truth, and more like the devil, who is the father of lies (Jn 8:44). Even when our alleged motive is to exaggerate success to encourage others, it will come back to hurt us (Gal 6:7). Further, a habit of lying will probably exclude us from going to heaven (Rev 21:8).
Lying also harms others and can lead to disastrous consequences which we did not intend. General Westmoreland lied in saying that the Tet Offensive in Vietnam had not surprised the United States. As a result, the American public was less tolerant and forgiving of later deceptions such as Watergate. Japanese pilots in World War II greatly exaggerated the number of U. S. ships they had sunk or damaged. This ruined effective Japanese planning for future naval engagements.
We need to be truthful to be faithful and true to Him who is Truth.
Instead of being timid, learn to be appropriately bold.