“It is a mark of a Christian that he or she be truthful,” said Dr. Albert Mohler. 
        “The reputation for which we should be most concerned is the reputation of God himself. How far we fall short to the glory of God, when we say we worship and follow God, and yet we lie. Truth and lies – how important to know the difference.
        “The Bible treats truth-telling as a deadly serious matter, a matter of life and death and a matter of moral obligation. It is rooted in the fact that God himself is truth. In Him, there is no lie – He hates lies. Those who would be His followers must be a people of truth. Jesus Christ himself said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.’ Conversely, we are told that Satan is the father of lies.”
        The Bible says that Satan’s native language is lies,” said Dr. David Jeremiah. “Whenever he opens his mouth – or motivates someone else to open their mouth – it will be a distortion of the truth.”
        To emulate God, to be His follower, we should always speak the truth – the whole truth and not half-truths – and not be deceptive by twisting the truth or withholding the truth.
        Truth is not simply a statement of fact, for a lie can hide behind facts when those facts are misrepresented in order to deceive. A story tells of a sailor who wrote in his journal: “The captain was sober today.” After several days would pass, the sailor would once again write: “The captain was sober today.” In failing to disclose that the captain, who abstained from alcohol, was sober every day, the sailor was falsely implying that there were times when the captain was inebriated. Most convincing, it seems, are those deceptions told through innuendo, half-truths, and insinuations. A statement of fact told with the intent to deceive, however, is not truth, but is dishonest and is nothing less than a lie outright.
        Thomas Jefferson was quoted as saying: “He who permits himself to tell a lie once finds it much easier to do it a second and third time, till at length it becomes habitual.”
        Habitual lying, the spreading of falsehoods, leads to distrust and disrespect. Therefore, it must not exist among those who wear the name of Christ.
        A statement that is fact need not necessarily be told, but a statement that is not fact needs never to be told.
        “The ninth commandment says, ‘You shall not bear false witness,’” said Dr. Mohler. “There is a concern in scripture that a lie can destroy, can lead to a capital execution if the witness be false, or, conversely, could allow the guilty to go free, an equal injustice in the eyes of God.
        “One of the prohibitions most often repeated is this prohibition against false witness. It is extended beyond the law court to the responsibility we have one to the other to tell the truth – not just when we have to stand up and raise the right hand and say, ‘I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,’ but even in our casual conversations, even in our social interaction.”
        Scripture says, in Colossians 3:9-10, “Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”
        Many times in Scripture, God rebukes the sin of lying. Not only did he make one of the Ten Commandments, Thou shalt not bear false witness, but lying is listed twice in Proverbs 6:16-19 among what God hates. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” 
        In Psalm 15, the psalmist asks, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil….”  
        There is a saying, “Let your conscience be your guide.” Your conscience, however, can be fallible if not led by God and God’s Word, if not guided by morals and ethics and by honesty.
        An honest person’s actions and words are determined by what is true and what is right and what is fair to others, not only what is factual but also what builds others up and does not tear others down.
        A dishonest person’s actions and words are guided by whatever benefits them at the moment, by what they will gain, regardless of how others are affected.
        God expects truth and fairness from all of His children.
        We are to share the Gospel with those with whom we come into contact, and sharing Jesus means not just telling about Jesus, but behaving like Jesus, behaving like Jesus told us to behave.
        It should be our aim to uplift others and, most of all, to uplift the name of Christ.
        Being a person of truth and not falsehood is of vital importance.
        If we would have others to trust and believe in the truth of God’s Word, we must ourselves be trustworthy and truthful.
        Those who may have a problem in this area need to pray that God would help them to overcome it, so that they will be credible witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.
        Christians have the responsibility and privilege to share the greatest news of all – the Good News of the Gospel.
        We need to boldly proclaim that Good News and boldly proclaim the truth and nothing but the truth – in all things and at all times.

“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”  Psalm 19:14