I Cannot Tell a Lie

God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19

Remember the legend of the cherry tree? In the original story it was told that six year old George Washington received a hatchet as a gift and damaged his father’s cherry tree. When his father confronted him, young George is recorded as having bravely said, “I cannot tell a lie…I did cut it with my hatchet.” The story concludes with Washington’s father embracing his son and commending his son’s honesty. Ironically, this story about the value of honesty was invented by one of Washington’s first biographers and is not true. Every human has lied and will continue to lie because we are a fallen people. Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44), roams this earth infesting the hearts and minds of God’s people with skillful precision, tempting us to lie, misrepresent and/or exaggerate to our advantage and his entertainment. While the cherry tree myth has endured for more than two hundred years, the Word of God endures forever. How does our Heavenly Father respond toward us when we confess our wrongdoings? What can we expect by confessing our faults? 1 John 1:9 is a powerful scripture worth taking a closer look at. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

If we (a conditional clause that requires action on our part) – confess (admit and take ownership for our actions) – our sins (transgression against God and His divine law)- HE is (El Chay, the Living God) – faithful (true, constant, loyal, devoted) – and just (He is fair and right and agrees with the law; we deserve the proper punishment) – and will forgive us (He cancels our offense, flaw, or mistake) – our sins- and purify us (remove sins contaminants from us, making us clean) – from all (refers to the whole quantity or extent of our sin) – unrighteousness (sinfulness and wickedness).

Our God, who cannot tell a lie, promises us that when we come to Him in humility, seeking His forgiveness, His grace and mercy always abound. No matter what you have done, you can be forgiven if you confess. God said it is so; and He cannot lie.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I come humbly to You and confess my sins, freely receiving the mercy and grace that You promise. In Jesus I am cleansed. What a wonderful Name, Amen.