Truth defeats the lies of darkness
By Jackie Morfesis
“Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). Powerful words about the power of the tongue. Relevant and meaningful words that ring true for all eternity.
We know that our words betray our hearts and our minds. We are indeed commanded to speak power and life over each other as told to us in scripture: “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).
Especially now in this most unusual season of our lives, we are even more acutely aware of the power of words to ignite a firestorm or to soothe troubled hearts and souls. However, even though this is the case, we still have the will to choose how we will respond to the words of others. This brings us to the far-reaching and impactful quality of words. One word, one sentence, can initiate catastrophic results not only upon one person’s life but also on many lives.
We have all been at one time or another victims of unkind words — gossip and slander, lies and deceit against us. We know very well how lies and deceit are looked upon by God. God silences the tongue of the liar and the deceiver.
Relationships can be permanently altered and wounded by lies. However, it is not only the liar who is at fault. Those who entertain lies because they are personally invested in believing the lies are also at fault. Everyone who allows the deceiver to plant untruths in their heart is at fault. Gossip, slander and lies are an abomination to the Lord: “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully are his delight” (Proverbs 12:22).
When we allow the lies of someone to contaminate our hearts, we fall short by believing falsehood and not giving the person who has been maligned the opportunity to defend themselves. To be on the receiving end of someone’s words whispered against us and our lives is to truly be in the presence of evil in action. Lies are unholy seeds planted within the hearts of those who receive these falsehoods.
As a result, relationships that could have been developed are severed before they are given the chance to develop. Yet we should not be shocked that those who love the Lord are spiritually attacked in this way. For we know that the lion prowls: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
We must stay vigilant and put on the armor of God. We must go into the world and, despite appearances, see with not only physical but also spiritual eyes. We must hone our discernment. We must pray for those who speak ill of us either in person or behind closed doors.
God will move His hand and bring the opportunity for repentance to those who have strayed from His love and have attacked His children. He will give them opportunity for spiritual transformation. Even in the midst of sinfulness, with His blessing, every hardship, crisis, tragedy or challenge that befalls us can be used to draw us back to God.
When we do not allow God to move in our lives in our suffering and take account of our falling short, we cannot help but see in the most blatant and even shocking of ways how God brings justice upon the liar and the deceiver. We must be careful of our words, for the day may come when our words will be silenced. Yet it does not always have to be this symbolically dramatic to understand the harm that lying does to us.
Liars and deceivers harm themselves because lies are the work of darkness. The darkness delights in the shadows, in whispers, in being shrouded and unseen. We also know very well what happens to the darkness. God’s light will shine through the darkness and everything and everyone will be unveiled for all eternity. “For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known” (Luke 12:2).
Truth will be victorious over the darkness and over all lies and deceit. The day comes, the day always comes, when each of us will be held accountable — for the thoughts in our minds, the words on our tongues, and the content of our hearts.
Jackie Morfesis is an author, advocate and creative artist. She holds a BFA in fine arts and an MA in liberal studies and is a former Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar to Greece. She is a Greek Orthodox Christian and devoted to spiritual matters.
