Proverbs 12:19 "The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment."
Truth is durable. It can and does withstand the test the time. If 2 + 2 really is 4, then that truth will stand forever no matter what resistance it faces. TRUTH is special. It grows indestructible roots that descend beyond the reach of any shovel. Truth can be ignored but it cannot be changed. Truth can be resisted but it cannot be removed. Truth can be denied but it cannot be destroyed.
The average person doesn't value truth until he or she faces a crisis of some sort. When serious illness comes knocking, everyone wants the truth about their illness - they don't want to know what it might be or what someone thinks it is. When death takes a loved one, everyone wants to know the truth about their loved one - they don't want to know where they might be or where someone thinks they are. When falsely accused of a crime, everyone wants the truth about their innocence - they don't want people to know what might have happened or what people think happened. When a spouse is suspected of infidelity, no one wants opinions or speculations - we want the truth. When a bank reports a security breach, no customer wants opinions or speculations - we want the truth.
Truth is so easily taken for granted until we find ourselves in need of it. When we need it, we realize how precious it is. When we need it, we realize how dependable and how reliable it is. Truth is supreme. When we discover the truth on any given topic, it brings an unrivaled confidence. When we learn the mathematical truth that 2 + 2 is 4, we unknowingly are empowered with confidence to learn more math and expand our intellectual understanding of many other things. When we learn something that cannot be proven false, we unknowingly gain power and long-lasting assurance. Furthermore, when we say something that cannot be proven false, we unknowingly share power and long-lasting assurance.
When we speak truth, we are speaking words that last forever. These words may be disputed for all of time, but these true words will stand strong for all of time. Eventually, the truth always prevails. Eventually, any effort to conceal or repeal truth will be destroyed. When we speak truth, we never need to change our story. When we speak truth, we never need to rephrase our position. When we speak truth, we never need to apologize for our words. Truth is always truth. Truth is always right. Truth is always without regret. If we spoke truth at age 10, those words remain true when we reach age 110. If we spoke truth when our marriage was good, those words remain true no matter how shaky our marriage may become. If we spoke truth when accused of wrongdoing, those words remain true whether a jury believes us or not. If we spoke truth when attempting to evangelize, those words remain true whether the unbeliever believes them or not. The lip of truth shall be established for ever - it has indestructible roots that cannot be removed. Truth endures every opposition.
On the other hand and very much to the contrary, lies last "but for a moment." There are no assurances in lies. There is no power in lies. When we speak anything that isn't true, we're uneasy. When we speak anything that isn't totally true, we lack confidence. Immediately after speaking falsely, even in the smallest of details, we begin formulating our explanation if questioned. Deep down, we all know that lies don't last. Deep down in the human soul, we all know that lies get caught. This is why we're always internally preparing to explain a lie or defend a false position. If you were honest with yourself, you would admit to immediately initiating an internal war room when telling a lie where you begin to strategize all possible scenarios for when your lie is questioned or exposed. We know that lies get exposed.
Lies don't last "but for a moment." When a criminal tells a lie, he almost always tells another lie. When a criminal tells a lie, he almost always changes his story. When a criminal falsely denies guilt, he almost always eventually admits guilt down the road to a cellmate or family member or friend. Lies just don't last. Their roots are extremely shallow and they're easily removed. It's hard to maintain a lie. When a story or a sentiment isn't true, it's hard to be consistent and most importantly, it's hard to be convincing.
Lies do not pass the test of time. Even if a liar in very rare cases can defy the test of time, no one gets past God at the Judgment. All lies get exposed in either this life or in the next life, or both. Truth however, is established forever. Truth today is truth tomorrow. Truth today is truth forever, whether anyone else believes it or not. Truth today doesn't need to be changed or explained at any point in the future. Speak truth - you won't regret it!
The average person doesn't value truth until he or she faces a crisis of some sort. When serious illness comes knocking, everyone wants the truth about their illness - they don't want to know what it might be or what someone thinks it is. When death takes a loved one, everyone wants to know the truth about their loved one - they don't want to know where they might be or where someone thinks they are. When falsely accused of a crime, everyone wants the truth about their innocence - they don't want people to know what might have happened or what people think happened. When a spouse is suspected of infidelity, no one wants opinions or speculations - we want the truth. When a bank reports a security breach, no customer wants opinions or speculations - we want the truth.
Truth is so easily taken for granted until we find ourselves in need of it. When we need it, we realize how precious it is. When we need it, we realize how dependable and how reliable it is. Truth is supreme. When we discover the truth on any given topic, it brings an unrivaled confidence. When we learn the mathematical truth that 2 + 2 is 4, we unknowingly are empowered with confidence to learn more math and expand our intellectual understanding of many other things. When we learn something that cannot be proven false, we unknowingly gain power and long-lasting assurance. Furthermore, when we say something that cannot be proven false, we unknowingly share power and long-lasting assurance.
When we speak truth, we are speaking words that last forever. These words may be disputed for all of time, but these true words will stand strong for all of time. Eventually, the truth always prevails. Eventually, any effort to conceal or repeal truth will be destroyed. When we speak truth, we never need to change our story. When we speak truth, we never need to rephrase our position. When we speak truth, we never need to apologize for our words. Truth is always truth. Truth is always right. Truth is always without regret. If we spoke truth at age 10, those words remain true when we reach age 110. If we spoke truth when our marriage was good, those words remain true no matter how shaky our marriage may become. If we spoke truth when accused of wrongdoing, those words remain true whether a jury believes us or not. If we spoke truth when attempting to evangelize, those words remain true whether the unbeliever believes them or not. The lip of truth shall be established for ever - it has indestructible roots that cannot be removed. Truth endures every opposition.
On the other hand and very much to the contrary, lies last "but for a moment." There are no assurances in lies. There is no power in lies. When we speak anything that isn't true, we're uneasy. When we speak anything that isn't totally true, we lack confidence. Immediately after speaking falsely, even in the smallest of details, we begin formulating our explanation if questioned. Deep down, we all know that lies don't last. Deep down in the human soul, we all know that lies get caught. This is why we're always internally preparing to explain a lie or defend a false position. If you were honest with yourself, you would admit to immediately initiating an internal war room when telling a lie where you begin to strategize all possible scenarios for when your lie is questioned or exposed. We know that lies get exposed.
Lies don't last "but for a moment." When a criminal tells a lie, he almost always tells another lie. When a criminal tells a lie, he almost always changes his story. When a criminal falsely denies guilt, he almost always eventually admits guilt down the road to a cellmate or family member or friend. Lies just don't last. Their roots are extremely shallow and they're easily removed. It's hard to maintain a lie. When a story or a sentiment isn't true, it's hard to be consistent and most importantly, it's hard to be convincing.
Lies do not pass the test of time. Even if a liar in very rare cases can defy the test of time, no one gets past God at the Judgment. All lies get exposed in either this life or in the next life, or both. Truth however, is established forever. Truth today is truth tomorrow. Truth today is truth forever, whether anyone else believes it or not. Truth today doesn't need to be changed or explained at any point in the future. Speak truth - you won't regret it!
Posted in Proverbs Commentary
Posted in Solomon, truth, Lies, Lying, Criminals, Honesty, True, Dishonesty, False
Posted in Solomon, truth, Lies, Lying, Criminals, Honesty, True, Dishonesty, False
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