Proverbs 29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
Elections are an interesting time if only, to see what lies people want to believe. Why do we have certain lies we nurture and want to believe? What is it about the human condition that we will let our guard down when it comes to certain lies? The drug addict wants to believe the lie that says, “I can stop this addiction at any time.” Yet, their lie keeps them addicted. The man who is sixty pounds overweight swallows the lie he wants to believe. He says to himself, “I only have a small weight problem and I have it under control.” The woman who has been beaten up for the fifth time wants to believe the lie that her husband didn’t mean to break her arm again.
Why does our human character fall for the same lies over and over again? Is our fear of the unknown future so terrifying that we feel safer living in the present lie while tolerating the effects the lie has on our lives? For this reason alone our need for a saviour is so apparent. Over and over again as we live in our lie, we prove our need for God. Rom. 5:8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Only the Lord can deliver us from our chosen deception.
The biggest lie we all fall for and want to believe is that we have lots of time to do what we have always wanted to do or what God has called us to do. 2Cor. 6:2 For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation! Now is the time. Stop putting your life on hold. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to any man. James 4:14 Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring — what your life will be! For you are like vapor that appears for a little while, then vanishes.
We read the story of Nehemiah who was called to rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem. Neh. 2:18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. As it was with Nehemiah and his construction crew, Satan will come to us with his lie saying, “We have lots of time to do what God has asked us to do.”
Satan uses these deadbeats Sanballat and Tobiah to try and stop the work by using mockery. Neh. 4:1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious. He mocked the Jews. When this did not work the devil tried persecutions and distractions. Neh. 4:8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw it into confusion. Nehemiah did not take his eye off of God’s plan but kept his crew vigilant. Neh.4:18 Each of the builders had his sword strapped around his waist while he was building, and the trumpeter was beside me.
When the distractions of life did not work on Nehemiah, Satan pushed again by coming to Nehemiah in the lie of false friendship. Neh. 6:2 Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message: “Come, let’s meet together in the villages of the Ono Valley.” They were planning to harm me. The lie we often want to believe is that our acquaintances we think are friends would not hurt us. This lie is insidious because we want people to like us. Satan knows how to use this lie against us. However, Nehemiah knew better. Prov. 29:12 If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked. Nehemiah responded wisely. Neh 6:3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing important work and cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you? ” Why should we waste our time with the world when God has occupied our hearts?
The walls of Jerusalem got built in record time because the lies of life were dealt with. When we become honest with ourselves, we too will be able to discern the falsehoods we have willfully been believing and will become wise to their destructive temptations. We have been delivered from this spirit of deception. Prov. 30:8a Keep falsehood and lies far from me. Let us ask God to show us clearly what lie we have to cut out of our lives so we can live in the peace Christ has ordained for us all. Amen!
Interesting verse
1Tim. 1:7 They want to be teachers of the law, although they don’t understand what they are saying or what they are insisting on.
Fearful people believe lies. We need to remember that we don’t need to fear. Our world is shaking and we are being tested in everything. Some of us are just scared and need to hold on tighter to God. 1 Timothy 1:7