In 1989 I was shopping for a car. I found this car that was the same model as my dream car. The possibility of owningthat car was incredible to me at the time. It was a used model, but I didn't mind. I had eyed that model when it was new. What was interesting in this story was the sales guy's pitch.
The guy brought up detailed answers for questions I didn't ask. I later discovered that all of the points brought up the sales guy were actually just the opposite of what he said.
The guy lied. He could have just told me the straight scoop and I would have probably asked for some discounts or maybe just kept looking. But the lie covered over defects, knowing the truth so that he could get what he wanted. He valued the money and or position on the sales team more than his own integrity. I learned something from that moment.
In talking with people, be keen to where the other person takes the conversation and why they are focusing on a particular detail. The bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The tongue is like a ready pen writing from the thoughts of the heart.The pure of heart are wise as serpents and harmless as doves. From the good in a heart there is wholesome speech that flows. The doubleminded will say one thing, while knowing that what is being said is not the exact truth. A friend once told me that if you will lie to yourself then you will lie to anyone. Lying to self is convincing one's self of a reality separated from what is real, true or actual. Justifying actions while fully aware of the real intentions of the heart.
In studying psychology and interpersonal communications, the clues to a fabricated story is the amount of unsolicited details while skirting details in other areas. I noticed all of that behavior with this guy as I went over what happened a week after the sale.That sales guy knew exactly that what he was saying wasn't true. In an attempt to deflect attention to another area, he told me what he wanted me to hear and think. I didn't know any better to question it at the time. I mean, here's this guy talking to me, representing a large company, has all of the trappings of credibility, why wouldn't I believe him? He had trappings of all that was wholesome, good and trustworthy counting on such things to put to rest unsettled questioning. It did, at least for me at the time.
Wow, when I discovered that this guy was just a bold faced liar, I realized that it was too late for me to do anything about it. I was stuck with my decision because I believed the guys lies. I asked God to help me have wisdom and knowledge about such things in the future. I have had many opportunities to observe the same behavior since 1989. On every occasion the pattern is recognizable. The real deal is what to do about a situation like this encounter. A funny thing happened to me. I began to see people from God's right ordered perspective like I never had done before. Even though it would become obvious at least to me that a person isn't truthful, I would see them the way that God sees them. I learned that a person's lie stays the hand of God's opportunity but does not quench His desire and passion to be close to His treasure. His treasure is people.We can never see God's treasure with eyes outside of God's nature. This is how we know that we are partakers of his nature, if we do what He said. He said to love others like we love our self and have no other thing greater than our passion for God. Only those who would lie to themself would live any other way.
Friend if for some reason you discover that you habitually, intentionally, willfully plot ways to get your way by covering with lies, half truths or wrong and impure actions, there is hope that you can get back to reality and make life more simple. If you confess it, forsake it in the name of Jesus, God says that He will not hold it against you. Then take it one more step, make it right with those that you wronged. Tell the truth, even if it costs you. To gain the world is not worth loosing your soul and the value of who you are and were made to be in this present world.King Saul had the problem of covering his own sin, justifying his actions and making excuses for himself. He had a choice. You have a choice friend. Saul's end doesn't have to be your end.
Choose today. Would you do that? Like the father standing watch for the son who went his own way, God has promised to be right there at that moment. A life of proper perspective that brings rightly ordered faith expressed as genuine love for people and especially for those in the family of God.
Believing and speaking what is good of other people and notallowing haughtiness, pride, self willed ambitions or exclusions to separate you from the body of Christ worldwide.God knows you, knows the good, the bad and the ugly and yet still loves you. Your choice determines God's opportunity in your life and your opportunity in God's family here on the earth. You can pull out of the way of life that leads to all that is short term, lacks real value, meaning or long term purpose. Its your life and your choice, friend.
I trust that you will make the right choice. If so, get ready for real vision, purpose and destiny that far exceeds the most grand idea imaginable.
Hope this blesses you friend.
In Christ,
Brother Ben
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