They taught them that their word was their bond; never lie. Wasn’t anything much worse than a liar. They taught them to stand up for themselves and for those who were weaker. When you’re in the right, never back down.”

                    –Donald L. Robertson  (Logan’s Word)

 

       “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
                    –John 8:32 (NKJV)
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I remember a story from many years ago.  I worked with a boys’ group at my church, Royal Rangers.  Every year we had a large banquet with several hundred coming.  About two weeks before the banquet I ran an “alert” in the church bulletin.  “Hunters needed–we are in need of more ground hog for the banquet.”  I told them to see me after service.  Several caught my eye as they were reading the bulletin during the preaching–shame on them.  After the service I was walking out and I heard two older ladies talking, “Ground hog!” one exclaimed.  “Why do people come to eat that stuff?” replied the other.  Well, I couldn’t have them thinking wrong of the Ranger program at the church so I, not so subtly interrupted.  I smiled, “Ground hog, ladies–sausage.”  They were slightly embarrassed, but they nodded and smiled.
       So today is the celebration of the advent of the first group given professional liars privilege–the weatherman.  They used to be the only profession that was paid to lie.  Ol’ Phil will give his predictions, probably depending on how his belly growls, people will make an uproar no matter what he decides, then facebook will have a ballyhoo over it for a week.  At least Punxsutawney Phil is all in fun.  Well, I guess there are PETA folk, and the like, against it.
       Given the times we are living in, we know that it is not only the weathermen who now lie.  This is 2022, beware of the lying politician.  Now, for sure, there are honest ones out there.  They may be hard to spot because of the racket given out by the braggarts and snarly folk around.  Listen to a politician answer a question.  If he gives a half-truth–he’s a liar for there isn’t such a thing.  If he doesn’t answer–he’s acting out a lie.  If he talks around the subject–he’s not only a liar, but he is a coward, and has no honor.
       Look at some Scriptures regarding liars.

               “For fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,”  –1 Timothy 1:10

               “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” –Revelation 21:8

               “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”  –John 8:44

People, as far back as Eve for she was deceived by a lie by the “Father of Lies” — the devil, have preferred to believe a lie.  That’s why perjury is such a dangerous crime.  To lie in the face of the truth shows who that person’s “father” is.  When people are shown the truth, often many of them shun it.  
       When Christians begin to compromise with the truth they are dealing with lying.  They are ignoring the truth, walking around it, or speaking half-truths.  There is only one way to God, through Jesus Christ His Son who died on the cross for our sins and rose the third day.  Truth that is not to be compromised in any way, shape, or form.  To get to the Father one must go through Christ.
       Do not get tripped up by a lie.  Stand for the truth, guard the truth for your eternal soul depends on it.  Remember the words of John, “He who says, ‘I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” (1 John 2:4, NKJV)

Vengeance is the devil’s justice.”
                    –Chad Cull  (The Devil’s Justice)

       “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

For it was our way to go onward; to go forward and to try to shape our world into something that would make our lives easier, even if more complicated. Our struggle was for time. Our leisure was bought from hardship, and we needed leisure to think, to dream, to create.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (Bendigo Shafter)

       “Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering.”
                    –Hebrews 10:32 (NLT)
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I have read the verse below many, many times and have heard numerous sermons preached using it as a text.  Today, I want to concentrate on a couple of things from the verse.

                “Therefore then, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.”
                         –Hebrews 12:1 (Amplified)

       Who are these “great cloud of witnesses”?  I have heard that they were the departed saints looking down from heaven as if in a grandstand.  They are hollering, “Go, go, the finish line is just ahead.”  If a person falters or falls down, one of these witnesses will stand and shout, “Get up, get up, I made it, so can you.”  It may be Noah, or David, or one of the nameless saints in history.  Then I had a preacher friend tell me they could not be those in heaven.  He explained that there are no tears in heaven, no sorrow, and if someone from heaven were watching life back on earth there surely would be tears.  However, I might add, those in heaven are no longer looking with earthly eyes, but with the eyes of God and see things now from His perspective.
       Remember, this verse follows the great Hall of Faith chapter–Hebrews 11.  I like how the Amplified examines the “witnesses.”  They “who have” borne testimony to the truth.  Look back at Hebrews 11 for this verse rests on that great chapter.  We are following great examples.  They are our witnesses, they have given us a testimony.  These people, Moses, Abraham, and the others had to fight and struggle, they had to put their faith to the test.  “Their walk of faith was a great, great challenge” (Renner)  We have these individuals to give testimony to the fact that they made it, therefore, we can make it also.
       We are completely surrounded (compassed about) by these witnesses.  There are not hollering at us now, but we have their examples to follow.  I think one of the great travesties of our age is that we do not know about the great men and women of the faith.  We have several mentioned in Hebrews 11, but what of the others?  What of the saints in the 2nd century, the 10th century, or the 20th century?  Folks may know the name of Billy Graham, though it is beginning to fade, but few know of Charles Finney, Sam P. Jones, or R.A. Torrey?  We do a disservice to the present generation by not teaching them of the great people of faith and that includes those from the Bible.  By their faith they made it; by our faith we can as well.
       I remember hearing the great missionary Charles Greenaway say many times in his preaching, “We’re going to make it!  Some of us may not look like much, but we’re going to make it.  Some may crawl across that finish line, bruised, battered, torn, and scarred, but they’re going to make it.”  Friend, keep going forward.  Fight the good fight of faith–you’re going to make it.  You may get weary, you may be wounded in the fray, but you’re going to make it!
       Rick Renner gives clarification on this first part of Hebrews 12:1, “We are surrounded on every side with powerful examples of people who were challenged in their faith, yet who held fast to the Word of God.”  That’s why it is so important to guard the truth, to be alert, to learn and study, to grow in the faith so that your legacy will say to the next generations–I made it!

This land was wild, and it could be cruel. It was not a place where you could travel without being constantly on guard. Dangers lurked everywhere. Only the hardy could survive here.”