Day 253, Year 1

Only by Not Dealing Falsely Can You be Saved

“Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes.” (Ecclesiastes 7:29 NKJV)

“For He said, ‘Surely, they are My people, Sons who will not deal falsely.’ So He became their Savior.” (Isaiah 63:8 NASB)

Genuine gratitude toward God comes from the heart. It is true that in some cultures, falsehood is common, whereas truthfulness is considered an anomaly. Yet, the value of the Bible is the opposite. As mentioned in the first verse, “scheme” in Hebrew is chishshabon, which also means “invention, device, or war-machine.” In other words, it can be inferred from the verse that human inventions and manipulations can distort the inherent integrity God originally instilled in humans. Why do people develop evil schemes or inventions? The reasons are multifaceted, including psychological, genetic, cultural, spiritual, and other factors. People’s inability to accept themselves sometimes leads to indirect expressions of needs and opinions, which can develop into various schemes and devices. Moreover, family upbringing and schools in many societies often propagate different cultural biases that foster falsehood. In addition, when the devil successfully tempts people to sin, evil devices will then appear in their minds and actions in an obvious way.

The second verse of today states that only by not dealing falsely can we receive the Savior’s grace, and thus become His people. Honesty is the best strategy, whether in conducting ourselves or in matters of faith. The word “falsely” in the verse, shaqar in Hebrew, also means “wrongly, deceptively, or dishonestly,” and implies “lying.” Hence, those who are accustomed to being false in their words and deeds need to undergo fundamental changes. Being honest is a prerequisite for having a genuine faith in Jesus. Believers must recognize and reject falsehood in us, if any. To be qualified as God’s people, to be saved and ruled by the Lord Jesus, and to embark on the path of eternal life, we must find no intentional falsehood in us.

In the following days, we are going to discuss hypocrisy and how to overcome it. This is not just about our attitudes at the moment, but also about the issue of consistency in our behaviors, the right priorities of our values, and so on. Matthew chapter 23 renders a good account of hypocrisy and how it can be changed by the words of the Lord Jesus. If you believe you are completely honest and free from hypocrisy, I encourage you to read and understand the following passages with an open mind and a desire to help those who struggle with hypocrisy.

Reflection questions:

1) Does your life have the integrity and truthfulness that God created in you? If they are distorted in you, how would you rely on the Lord’s help to restore them?

2) Do you know your falsehood and reject it every time? If you still have a habit of falsehood, how would you rely on God to purge it?