Lying Lips Always Revealed
Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in
their hearts they harbor deceit. Though their speech is charming, do not
believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. Their malice may be
concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. –
Proverbs 26:24-25
The other day someone asked me if I’d talked recently
to someone we both know. I hadn’t. I didn’t tell the questioner I was glad. I
simply changed the subject and the conversation moved on.
What I didn’t say is that the person isn’t safe for
me. He is someone who lies easily and speaks falsely to my face before turning behind
my back and spreading deceit. I don’t think I’m supposed to know. Maybe he has
convinced himself that he is fooling me. He has no idea how many people have asked
me if I know what he says about me about my back. Nor does he realize how
little they think of him because of it.
I choose not to spend time with him. I don’t return phone
calls and only speak when I must. I don’t inquire about his life. I no longer
want to hear about his tangled web. He’s told so many lies about others that he
trips himself up, unable to remember what he’s said before. It’s surely no surprise
that he lies about me as well.
Some days I feel sorry for him. He truly is a miserable
soul. He’s so intent on making money, on having his dream house and living as
he sees fit, that he misses what is important. All of his relationships, including
those with his children and grandchildren, are in continual turmoil. He stirs
that pot again and again.
What bothers me as that those who don’t know him well
see him as a man of God. They think of the good he has done, failing to hear
the words “me” and “I” when he proclaims his good works. He uses ministry
opportunities to further his own ego. Why do I say this? Because he never, ever
gives Jesus credit for anything.
People don’t want to hear that, of course. We all have
a need to believe there are good, selfless people in the world. We buy the
lines, failing to truly listen or look beyond the surface. We’ve been disillusioned
too many times. Just this once we’d like to believe in something, or someone,
who rings true.
I mostly remain silent. I choose to keep my distance.
I wish him well. I hope that someday he truly understands that this life isn’t
about him. It isn’t about me either. Or about you. It’s about Jesus. It’s about
glorifying God. It’s about walking in the light that is the Holy Spirit.
It isn’t always easy to turn away from the lies. There
is that part of me that would like to loudly and publicly challenge him. But I’ve
come to learn that the truth has a way of emerging when we least expect it. God
really does do battle on our behalf. He defends those who belong to Him.
And I do belong to Him. I know that with every fiber
of my being. So on those days when the lies sting my soul, when others think
badly of me because of what he has said, when I want to loudly proclaim the
truth, I walk away. I hold my tongue and trust my God to handle it in His own
way in His own time. Because He will. Every time.
