Guard Against Untruthfulness!

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth. Ephesians 6:14.
God permitted Satan to carry forward his work until the spirit of disaffection ripened into active revolt. It was necessary for his plans to be fully developed, that their true nature and tendency might be seen by all…. His power to deceive was very great. By disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood, he had gained an advantage. All his acts were so clothed with mystery, that it was difficult to disclose to the angels the true nature of his work…. It was his policy to perplex with subtle arguments concerning the purposes of God. Everything that was simple he shrouded in mystery, and by artful perversion cast doubt upon the plainest statements of Jehovah.
The underworking was so subtle that it could not be made to appear before the heavenly host as the thing that it really was; and so there was war in heaven, and Satan was expelled with all who would not stand on the side of loyalty to God’s government.
I am bidden to warn all who make untruthful statements that they are serving him who has been a liar from the beginning. Let us be on our guard against untruthfulness, which grows upon him who practices it. I say to all, Make truth your girdle…. Put away all prevarication and exaggeration; never make a false statement.
An intention to deceive is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually as by words. All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood.
There should be a continual effort to imitate the society we expect soon to join; namely, angels of God who have never fallen by sin. The character should be holy, the manners comely, the words without guile, and thus should we follow on step by step until we are fitted for translation.
The Faith I Live By p. 69
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Prayer Requests
—– please put little Trinity on the prayer chain. she is 7 months old and has a bad cold and breathing problems her mom took her to the ER a while ago. M
—–This morning my at father in law, Cliff, passed away. Please pray for the family. He is already sorely missed. Shirley
—–Please pray for an elderly couple who are living out of their car and he has had several strokes and now is in the hospital with chest pains. Kathrin
—–pray for Bojan, who is very ill, and is in poor physical condition. D
—–Please pray for Carolyn as she is no longer able live alone and needs assisted living. Please pray that God works out all of the details so that she can get it. Rose
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Dear Friends,
One winter shortly after we were married, Ron and I lived in Traverse City Michigan. One winter night, a church member invited all of the church members to her house for an evening of tobogganing. There was a long, steep hill behind her house that was ideal for sledding, so everyone brought their sleds and toboggans that night and they were having a great time. Everyone, that is, except me. I was cold and bored. I wandered into the house and helped the hostess with refreshments. We had just moved to the area and didn’t know anyone, so I felt so out of place and shy. I wished that Ron would tire of sledding and be ready to go home.
Finally, the door opened and in walked Ron. Instead of telling me that it was time to go home, however, he began to beg me to try going downhill on that speeding toboggan just once. He was sure that I would love it. After all, I loved driving our car at high speeds. Surely, a toboggan would be just the thing for me. Seeing my hesitation, the others in the room began urging me to try it. Finally, I consented.
Ron led me to where the empty toboggan was sitting harmlessly at the top of the hill. As I stood there looking down at the steepness and slipperiness before me, fingers of fear crept up my spine. Ron assured me that it was safe, and that once I tried it, I would love sledding as much as he did. I was not convinced. Even as a child, I did not like sliding down even the most gradual incline. Why would I want to slide down this extremely steep one?
At last, he convinced me to get on. Other members were ready to go for a “joyride” and they, too, began assuring me that I would have fun. Thinking that if I got in the middle of all of those people, I would get claustrophobic, he suggested that I get in front. That was the wrong suggestion! If I had been in the middle, I might not have minded it quite so badly; but being in front, I was in the position where I could experience all the terror of being out of control, rushing headlong into the darkness. The icy wind rushing into my lungs made me feel as if I couldn’t breathe. I felt as if I were caught in one of those nightmares that I often had where I would be falling, falling, falling…..
So it is today. This world is like that toboggan, seemingly out of control, plunging farther and farther into darkness. Many are perplexed and afraid as they see what is happening to our world. Jesus spoke of this time when He said, “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth” Luke 21:26
In His mercy, our Great Redeemer has shown us what the future holds. We do not need to be perplexed. We do not need to be filled with terror. Our Dear Saviour does not want us to be caught off guard, so He has revealed in His Holy Word the signs of the end of this world. He says, “Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Matt 24:32, 33
As we look about us, we can see the fulfillment of Paul’s prophecy, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” 2 Tim 3:1-5
Peter tells us that in the last days there will be scoffers, not believing the story of the flood, or of creation, or of the coming of the Lord. (2 Peter 3:1-7)
Although this world is full of perplexity and is rushing toward the end of time even faster than that toboggan was rushing down that very steep hill, our Great Creator is not caught off guard. He has revealed the future, so that we do not have to be unprepared. Daniel and Revelation point plainly to our time and should be studied prayerfully. Indeed, throughout the Bible, we are given signposts to reveal to us what will happen to this old world. They show us that God is in control. They show us how near to the end of all things we are, yet we need not fear as we see the world careening down the slope of time.
Praise God, we have a Saviour, Who has promised that no matter what the future holds, He will be with us. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa 41:10; 43:1-3
As we see prophecy being fulfilled before our eyes, we can with confidence declare, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.” Ps 46:1-3
“So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” Luke 21:31 Jesus is coming soon! The end is at hand! Get ready, get ready, get ready.
Rose