You are only as good as your word

Oh! What a tangle web we weave when we practice to deceive. This week I would like to start by asking the question, do you lie? Before you answer, give this question a lot of thought. First, let’s examine the different ways that a person can lie. These are in word, deeds, and actions. What we may see as something else can simply be a lie in disguise. For example, we may lie without meaning to do so, because at the time we mean what we say. You meet a person and fall in love and tell them “I will never leave you or I will never hurt you. You may be sincere at the time, but you eventually do one or both. Was this a lie? You may say “It was the truth when I said it, so if I lied it was not intentional”. That may be true, never the less it turned out to be a lie. You did not keep your word and in the eyes of the other person you are only as good as your word.

Have you ever done something to deceive another person? If so, you were lying in your deed. We are born with sinful actions in our nature. Even a child learns to deceive at an early age. This occurs without thinking, it is in their nature. They know how to lie without being taught. If left to themselves they will find a way to do something wrong and when confronted, to avoid punishment, they will lie. I have often heard of the imaginary people children make up to avoid getting punished. Such as, I don’t know, some body, they or who, did it or made me do it.

Now an example of lying by action; have you ever broke something that belong to your mother or to a friend and didn’t tell them? That deception was a lie in action. There was no motive or word, only action that left them to blame whoever except you. As a whole we lie daily, when we go to work we put on a different face not our real one. Just to please our boss or coworkers simply to keep our jobs. We pretend to like someone when in reality we don’t. Isn’t that lying? When asked do we lie we say no. Isn’t that a lie? By now you hopefully get the point.

As children of God we are not suppose to be liars, because of the spirit of truth. Even before the Holy Spirit was given the law spoke against lying. Thou shalt not bare false witness. Col 3:9-10 says do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. So liars have no part in the kingdom of God but are of Satan’s kingdom. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty James. 2:12. As Christians we are suppose to be ensamples of Gods nature and not do things as the world does. Our lives should say something to people. When we lie and are backbiters, what kind of statement are we making to the world about the church?

Brothers, let us practice what Paul taught in James 12: Above all do not swear, either by heaven or earth or by any other oath. But let your Yes be Yes and your No be No, least you fall into judgment. By all means be careful what you speak and how you live. You never know who is watching you and trying to be like you. Especially our leaders in the faith, we are watched closer than any others. Now, may the grace of God and His mercy keep you in your living, learning and speaking. In the Precious Name of Jesus. Amen.

And for this reason God will send them delusions that they should believe the lie. 2Thess. 2:11

What is Man

What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you visit him? For you made him a little lower than the angels, and you crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands; you put all things under his feet. (Psalms 8:4-6)

What is a man? I have asked this question many times since childhood; as I’m sure many other male children have. The answer I received was not the answer I was looking for. Instead of telling me what a man is, they told me what a man is supposed to do. This question plagued me and would not leave, as did others, until finally, I was driven to go out into the world in search of the answer. I was 17 years old at the time I told my mother I had to go; surprisingly, she didn’t put up a fight, as I thought she would. So off I went, to find my answers, first to the army and then the world. My thoughts were, if I could find the answer anywhere it would be in the army. Sorry to say my journey did not end there, I still had no answer.

After many years of turmoil, pain, and suffering; I still had not found the answer. Only at the point of death was the true answer found. I had to be born-again and accept Jesus Christ as my lord and savior before my understanding would be opened. I am writing this, not for debate, but that it may, hopefully, give an answer to those who are searching. So here goes.

Where did the word man come from? It was not a label we put on ourselves. What is the definition? To find the answer, let’s go to the bible in the book of Genesis, chapter 1, verse 26: Then God said “let Us make man, in our image, according to our likeness”. So before man was created he was named and his blueprint was God’s own image. Now my question to you is what does that make him? The word tells us that God created himself for his own pleasure. This tells me that man is a god. Why do I say such an outrageous statement? Well, because I found supporting scriptures that say the same. John 10:34, for instance, is very direct. If you believe what Jesus said then read for yourself. Also read Gen.5:1, now, if Adam was created in God’s image and in Gen.5:1 Adam’s son , Seth was begotten in Adams image after his likeness; would it not be safe to say that Seth was also created in God’s image, Therefore a god.

Not all men were created in the likeness of God; Gen.5:2 states: He called them mankind. These began to multiply on the earth and the sons of God began to desire their daughters. They took wives for themselves of all they chose. Gen.6:2 Now it should be plain to see that there is a difference between the sons of God and mankind. Even though they are similar in appearance, there is a difference in their nature.

Furthermore, the Essence of a thing defines and establishes it’s character. Character is the emotional, intellectual, and moral qualities that define an individual. These I believe can be used to define a son of God. Further supporting scripture can be found in Psalms 82:6 & 97:7. There are many other scriptures throughout the bible, one must only seek to find. Just remember John 10:34-35 says "Ye are gods" and the scriptures cannot be broken.

Now Satan tries to emulate everything God does and has done so since the Garden of Eden. Some examples are in Ezek.28:1-7 and Isa.14:12-17 to name just a few. In the last days false prophets and false teachers shall rise up among you 2Peter 1-3 pretending to be what they are not. So,blessed children believe not every spirit, but try the spirit by the spirit 1John: 1-3. The nature of a man cannot change; just his appearance. Amen.

May God bless and keep you through Christ Jesus our Lord.