“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.” (Psalm 89:34-35)

In Greek, Roman, and more modern false religions, lying and deception are common behaviors among their gods. Not so with the Lord of the Bible! And we are glad of that. What confidence can be built on an unstable foundation? As Proverbs instructs us, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint” (25:19).

Our God is not untrustworthy, prone to deception and wavering, but the God of truth. “God is not a man, that he should lie” (Numbers 23:19). God’s truthfulness is unchangeable: “It was impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18). If we don’t have confidence in God to reliably relay to us the truth, how likely are we to step out in faith in times of doubt? We must fall back on the assurance that the God of the Bible is the God of truth, and we know we can rely on Him “to keep you from falling” (Jude 1:24-25).

God also expects that same truthfulness from those made “in his own image” (Genesis 1:27) who aspire to be His holy children (1 Peter 1:15-16). So we should strive to be of the same mind as God when it comes to the truth. “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour” (Ephesians 4:25).

Our God sets the standard and example of consistent truth-loving and truth-telling for us to follow. This may seem like a tall mountain to climb, but we should not lose heart. God is for us! He is willing and able to help us, for “God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts” (Galatians 4:6). DWR