To continue our study on truth and human nature to exaggerate it from time to time, I would like to direct your attention to Colossians 3:5-9. In this chapter Paul is writing about righteous living for the Lord. Paul says: "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which are idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now your mind must rid yourself of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, SLANDER, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices." In the first lesson of the series, we read a firsthand account of God's wrath toward a curved tongue. Here in Colossians Paul gives warning to all about the Lord's impending wrath to the wicked in which he includes slander and lying. But what is it that makes a man or woman give into the temptation to lie? What lures us into this trap of deceit? Like a black widow spider spinning its web to catch its next meal, Satan uses temptation when we are weak and weary. From the beginning of Genesis the ability to lie is instilled in us by Satan and we proved to our creator that we are weak.

A lie was told to Eve when the serpent asked her: "Did God really say, 'you must not eat from any tree of the Garden'?" Then the woman replied to the question, to which the serpent replied: "You will not surely die, for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened like, and you will be like God knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:1 & 3:4-5) What happened after the serpents convinced Eve to eat of the fruit and give some to her husband? Satan set a chain reaction in motion which will eventually destroy the world. Satan lied to Eve in order to trick humanity into destroying ourselves by disobeying God and eating the forbidden fruit. They ate the fruit and immediately they knew they had done wrong according to God. So they felt ashamed and tried to hide themselves from the presence of God. That link lead to another lie when Adam told God: "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." (Genesis 3:10) I am not arguing that they didn't feel ashamed of their nakedness, but also that they felt ashamed because they knew they had disobeyed God's decree and hid from his presence out of guilt for the wrong they committed. God asked Adam where he was and he replied that he was afraid because of their nakedness. The Lord knew what happened and confronted them, at which time Adam pushed the blame to Even, and Eve to the serpent. From the moment the fruit was eaten humanity began to die. Man was cursed to work the land and eat of it through pain and toil. The curse led to another lie, through Cain who killed his brother Abel. To hide his guilt once the Lord asked him where Abel was Cain answered "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" (Gen 4:9) Cain's lie led to his separation from the sight of God and his family, and gave rise to the wicked nations whom did not know God. In Genesis we are given two reasons why lies are told.

The Serpent lied to Eve, in order to trick humanity into destroying itself, so he could have revenge on God and his creation. Adam and Eve Lied to God in order to cover their shame, as did Cain when God asked about Abel. Each reason leads to one central reason, which is to make us feel better about our sins. We also lie by pretending to be something we are not. I have been guilty of this. When I was a teenager, I pretended to be a cowboy. As the years went by I realized that I wasn't fooling anyone, and that the life I was trying to live was not the one for me. This led to the biggest lie I have ever told. I wrote a note to my parents explaining that a friend of mine was seriously hurt in a car wreck, and I ran away from home. The reason for this lie was fear. Fear because I did not think my parents would have let me go. Though I had a reason for doing such an act, because I was going to help a friend, just not the way I explained it. My intentions might have been admirable, I conducted myself in way that not only put myself in danger, but would also hurt the people I was closest to. There lay the third and forth reasons of why we lie. Fear of not fitting in. Fear of not getting our way. We also lie in attempts to save someone from getting hurt, or to stop one from worrying. Whatever the reasons are for lying, the consequences are always the opposite of what we are trying to achieve. That is the trap. We think of a lie to put ourselves in a better position, because we think it is right. Then we get burned by hurting the people around us and finding ourselves in a far worse situation than when we began. In conclusion, a truth is always better than a lie, no matter what the reasons are. And the Consequences are always easier to live with. If you think this message applies to you. Or if you are not a Christian and would like to become one, please make amends for your lies. Or be baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.