February, 2025 | THE BIBLE VIEW

The BIBLE VIEW #995 — Hell

In This Issue:
“Uh-oh”
What the Bible Says about Hell
Hell

Volume: 995 February 24, 2025
Theme: Hell

The Daily View is a free, daily devotion. Sign up (https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/a26cc9M), and you will be e-mailed a link to read or HEAR a KJV chapter and a short commentary (200-700 words) of something taught in the day’s reading. The e-mail will include a mini-sermon in pictures, a prayer list, Thought for The Day, and short articles reinforcing biblical principles.

Read what readers have said about the e-mailed devotion at:
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“Uh-oh”
Bill Brinkworth

“Consciousness came and went in short spurts. For a brief second, bright surgical lights came into sight, and then sleep over came me.

“Again, for a glimpse, I saw doctors and nurses scurrying about me. Some were adjusting electrodes on my chest. Another nurse was quickly putting a needle into my arm, then sleep cameupon me. I do not know how long it was, but I was vaguely aware of my mother talking to me. She was crying. There was urgency in her sobbing voice.

“Again, doctors were shouting orders to those nearby. The beeping of a monitor increased. Some were running for more equipment, and then silence.

“Darkness surrounded me, but I was quite conscious. No longer were there bright lights; no doctors’ voices; no mother’s sobs. It wasn’t like the previous in’s and out’s of consciousness. I was aware with all my senses. There was a sense of my moving, but not one of my body parts was at all involved. It was as if I were drifting somewhere. I could feel it getting warmer and warmer, and it wasn’t long until the heat was unbearable. Where was I? What was happening to me? I knew my eyes were wide open, but all around me was darkness. Was this, was this, was this Hell? Oh no, that must be where I was. I’ve died! Fear like I never experienced before forced screams out of my mouth. Hell! Oh, no. What have I done?

“Then, through all the fear, the intense heat, and now an increasing pain in what seemed every pore of my body, I remembered some things from my past. I remembered Mrs. Corner’s Sunday school lesson and the parts of the verses she read about Hell. I remembered my snide remarks mocking what she said.

“Distant shrieks in the tormenting darkness told me I was not alone in my imprisonment.

“Memories continued to flood my mind. I recalled the times my friend Gary and I mocked Hell and proudly boasted that we would be together in Hell and would have a party together. This was no party. Perhaps one of the screams in the distance was his, but we certainly were not together.

“A horrible series of blood-curdling shouts told another was not able to bear the torture they were experiencing, but there was no way out. There was no escape for anyone! Another cry hollered, ‘Not forever.’ All hope was gone from that voice. His ‘Oh-nooooo’ seemed to be a whisper as he realized the hopelessness of his situation.

“A brief memory of my brother’s coming back from church one day reminded me how I reacted when he told me he had just gotten saved and had God’s promise of going to Heaven when he died. I thought I was so smart when I retorted, ‘No one can know for sure that they’re going to Heaven. How can you believe that Bible? It’s just an ol’ book that some men wrote.’

“I was so wrong. If I had only listened to him! If I only had taken him up on his invitations to go to church, I may have gotten what he had. I may not have been in the place I am now. How wrong I was. How foolish my opinions were. If my memory of what I heard in church serves me well, it is going to get worse; a judgment before God; the Lake of Fire — forever. Uh-oh, what have I done?”

This story, of course, is a fictitious account of what may be happening to billions of unsaved souls right this very second. It is based on many Scriptures and may be very close to reality. If you have never trusted Christ as your payment for your sin, it may very well describe what you may experience one day. Do not be foolish. While God has allowed you the opportunity, decide to be saved from Hell today before it is eternally too late!
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13

“Everyone who finds himself in Heaven will have to thank God for it, and everyone who finds himself in Hell will have to thank himself.” — C. H. MacKinosh

What the Bible Says about Hell
Bill Brinkworth

One of the most feared doctrines of the Bible is about the place called “Hell.” Many go to great lengths to belittle and scoff at it. Many deny it. However, it is mentioned 54 times in the Bible and referred to in many other places.

Perhaps, if they convince themselves and others that Hell does not exist, the scoffers think they will alleviate the guilt of their sins and will cover up the fear they have of spending eternity there. One’s personal opinion does not negate facts. There is a place called Hell. Here are some facts about Hell according to the King James Bible:

Hell is down:
Luke 16:23 “And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.” Also: Ez. 31:16,17, Ez. 32:21, Is. 14:9, 15.
Hell is for the wicked:
Psalms 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” Also: Mat. 5:22, 23:33. All are wicked, but Hell will be the destination for those who did not allow Christ’s payment for sin to cover their iniquities.
Hell is a place of sorrows:
Psalm 18:5 “The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.” Also: Psalm 116:3.
Hell is a place of pain:
Luke 16:24-25 “And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. … thou art tormented.” Also: Luke 16:28.
Mark 9:44 “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Also: Mark 9:46, 48, Isaiah. 66:24.
Hell is a place where the dead without Christ go:
Proverbs 9:18 “But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” — Life is not over when our flesh stops breathing in this world.
Hell has levels:
Deuteronomy 32:22 “For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.” Also: Psalm 86:13.
Hell is growing:
Proverb 27:20 “Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.” Also: Isaiah 5:14.
Hell was different before Christ died on the cross and rose again:
Luke 16:26 “And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.” — Hell was down and was divided into two parts. Abraham’s bosom was where the godly went. There was no tormenting there. The lower terrible region is where the ungodly went. It was separated by a “great gulf” no one could cross.
Jesus went to Hell (It was “Abraham’s bosom” and, again, it was not a place of torment!):
Acts 2:31 “He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.”
Jesus led the godly out of “Hell” when He died:
Ephesians 4:8 “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” Also: Psalm 68:18. Rev. 1:18. — Before Christ ascended back to Heaven, he led the godly Old Testament saints out of the upper region of Hell (Abraham’s Bosom).
Hell is not for those who trust Christ as their Saviour.
John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Hell is a temporary place, and then things get worse:
Rev. 20:13 “And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” — All those that are in Hell, will be released, judged, and put in eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire. Also: Rev. 20:14.

Hell certainly is a horrible place. No one should want to go there. The only way to avoid an eternity in that horrible place is to be saved!
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

** This is a condensed version of a study of Hell. A more complete version can be found at: http://www.openthoumineeyes.com/lessons/hell.html.

“Don’t let scoffers laugh you into Hell; they cannot laugh you out of it.”
— D. L. Moody

Hell
John Milton

A dungeon horrible, on all sides round,
As one great furnace, flam’d, yet from those flames
No light, but rather darkness visible
Serv’d only to discover sights of woe,
Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
And rest can never dwell, hope never,
That comes to all; but torture without end
Still urges, and a fiery deluge fed
With burning sulphur unconsum’d.
Such place eternal justice had prepared
For those rebellious; here their prison ordained
In utter dakness, and their portion set
As far remov’d from God and light of Heaven
As from the center thrice to th’ utmost pole.

“When some editors have proofread my work, they often made notes that ‘Hell’ and ‘Heaven,’ should not be capitalized because the Bible does not capitalize them. The rules of capitalization have changed since the KJV Bible was finalized. Heaven and Hell ARE real places and I will continue to capitalize the proper nouns! — B. Brinkworth

The BIBLE VIEW #994 — God’s Provision

In This Issue:
Just Enough
Little Is Much When God Is in It
God Provided
Matthew 6:25-34
God’s Ravens

Volume: 994 February 17, 2025
Theme: God’s Provision

Just Enough
Bill Brinkworth

After two months of being led out of bondage in Egypt, the people of Israel complained (Exodus 16:2) about not having the food they liked. They ignored the fact of being mistreated in slavery, God had delivered them from their bondage, and they daily saw God’s leadership and provision as they traveled through the wilderness. God heard their complaints but still met their needs.

God rained “bread” from Heaven every morning for the people. The sweet, small bread was also called “the corn of Heaven” and angel’s food (Psalms 78:24-25).

Six days a week, the manna rained down. There was just enough for every man, woman, and child to eat. Each family gathered what they could eat, about one omer (3.6 liters). After the sun burned hot, there was no manna left. The manna melted. They had just enough for that day!

If the people did not trust that God would provide the “bread” the next day and tried to hoard it, it would stink and turn to worms. They had no choice but to trust God would provide their daily needs. To compound God’s miracle of provision, on the day before the Sabbath, when they were not to work, God rained down a two-day supply of manna. The bread gathered that day would last two days. God gave them just enough food every day for 40 years until they ate corn in the land (Joshua 5:12) that God had led them to.

Throughout the Bible there are examples of God’s meeting the needs of His own. Jacob had a son, Joseph, in the right position to provide his family with food during a drought. God provided just enough food to meet all of Israel’s needs when they were in the wilderness. The widow’s miraculously refilling barrel of meal and the cruse of oil were just enough to meet Elijah’s and the widow’s needs. Jesus told the disciples to reach the world with the Gospel and not carry anything extra. In all cases, God provided just enough. They were not to have extra because they were to trust God and see what He would do for them daily.

Man’s distrusting nature relies too often on his provision. There needs to be a correct balance between saving for a “rainy day” and amassing as much as possible because he thinks only he can provide. We are to be wise and good stewards of what we have, but not dependent only on what we do. It is often forgotten that God wants us to trust him for everything, including our daily needs.

Most people have long forgotten, or never given any thought or trust, that God is the one that ultimately provides all we have. It is not the government’s food stamps or its welfare that we should rely on. It is not our big barns of storage, as the “fool” in Luke 12:16-21 trusted in. It would not take much for a government to collapse, especially these days, or “barns” of investments or savings accounts to fail, and then where would those people who were relying on themselves be?

My wife and I have learned long ago that God will meet our daily needs. We saved what we could, sometimes only ten dollars a week, and have been frugal with our purchases, but still tithed (gave to the Lord through the local church).

We soon learned that God honored His promises and did provide our “daily bread” (Mat. 6:11). We have always had enough to pay our bills.

When we desperately needed housing, God gave us just enough money from an insurance claim to fix up an old house. When our house desperately needed paint, the paint I found was just enough to cover the job and just “happened” to be the right color.

Without planning, I purchased seeds for the garden, which were just enough to cover the available space. Repair jobs around the house are often met by having just enough materials lying around the house.

Food prepared is just enough to meet the needs of all the unexpected guests who drop in for dinner. The clothes given to us just happened to fit exactly our sizes.

On and on, I could go of 40+ years of God’s precise provision. Sometimes, we had a little extra, only to find, in a couple of days, that it would be just enough to replace a damaged tire or meet the needs of another emergency. After thousands of examples of just having enough, we quickly learned it was not a coincidence but God’s provision.

If we had had a surplus, we may not have been reliant and appreciative of God’s provision. If we had had everything we wanted, we may have been like the wealthy man I once visited. After I told him the Bible’s plan of salvation, he looked me in the face and said, “Look around. Do you see all I have?” He did have a large mansion, cars, and other splendid things. “Does it look like I need God?” He needed to know that God had provided, not himself. Without God’s help, he may not have the health or the intellect to earn that money. People like that who have such self-trust often have to, and do, lose all they have to find out Who really is in control.

Today’s world has become more dependent on their own devices or government aid, including Christians! Unfortunately, those provisions frequently let those who trust them down. The ways of man are not trustworthy nor always reliable. God, however, will never let his own down that trust in Him. Rely on God to provide. He may give you just enough, but it will be He that you will reliably trust on. You will then see what the mighty hand of God will do in your life.
“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Mat. 21:22
“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” I John 3:22

“When you’re down to nothing, God may be up to something.”

Little Is Much When God Is in It
Hymn by Kittie J. Suffield

In the harvest field now ripened,
There’s a work for all to do.
Hark, the voice of God is calling,
To the harvest calling you.
CHORUS:
Little is much when God is in it.
Labor not for wealth or fame.
There’s a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ name.

Does the place you’re called to labor
Seem so small and little known?
It is great if God is in it,
And He’ll not forget His own.
CHORUS:

When the conflict here is ended
And our race on Earth is run,
He will say, if we are faithful,
“Welcome home, my child, well done.”
CHORUS:

“God strengthens shoulders to bear the burden.”

God Provided
Dr. J. Campbell

Abraham’s knife lifted up to kill his son; an angel appeared.
Lot was near destruction; angels intervened.
Hagar and her son were dying; an angel showed them water.
Moses was trapped from escaping his enemy by the sea: God parted the waters.
Rabshakeh insulted God; his army was destroyed in twelve hours.
Haman formed a plot to kill Jews; the king could not sleep and read what Mordecai had done for him. Because of his discovery, Mordecai and, eventually, the Jewish people were spared.
Peter was in jail; angels released him.

Matthew 6:25-34

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

“Worry is irreverent — God will provide!”

God’s Ravens
F. B. Meyer

Having read the story of how God fed Elijah by the ravens with his mother, a little boy sat on a wintry night in a fireless room beside a bare table. With a simple, child-like trust, he asked his widowed mother if he might set the door open for God’s ravens to come in.

“I feel sure they must be on their way,” he said. The trustful mother granted the request.

The mayor of the German town, passing by, was curious by the sight of the open door and entered, inquiring why it was open. When he learned the reason, he said, “I will be God’s raven!” He met their needs then and long afterward.

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Psalms 37:3-5

“What God ordains, He sustains!” — Author Unknown

The BIBLE VIEW #993 —Marriage

In This Issue:
A Biblical Marriage
The Differences Between Men and Women
The Marriage Institution
Marriage Is Not A Mission Field

Volume: 993 February 10, 2025
Theme: Marriage

Read what readers have said about the e-mailed devotion at
https://www.devotionsfromthebible.com/what-readers-say

A Biblical Marriage
Bill Brinkworth

Ephesians 5 discusses a subject that bristles the hair on the back of many necks. It takes a position that has been hated and rebelled against for generations. Unfortunately, the refusal to follow God’s commandments in this area has resulted in a current divorce rate higher than 50%.

In Ephesians 5:21-33, Paul discusses submissiveness between a married man and a woman. According to Noah Webster, “submitting” is yielding or surrendering to an authority.

The first surrendering to authority discussed here is for both husband and wife to surrender to each other (vs. 21) because they respect God’s commandments! They are to submit to each other because God tells them to, and they should know God’s way works. God ordained the union between man and woman, so He certainly knows how it will work. No other way will be successful!

A wife must also submit to her husband (vs. 22). When she humbles herself to do so, she is doing it “unto the Lord”. What a step of faith it takes to be a wife and trust the Lord that way. I’m sure most women shudder at this point, thinking about all kinds of situations: “What happens if I submit to him, and my husband mistreats me?”; “What happens if I let him be the authority and decision-maker, and he makes wrong decisions?”; “What happens if he doesn’t make any decisions?”; “What happens if I don’t get my say?”, and countless other scenarios.

If the husband does not hold up his commitments, those situations could come true. That is why it is so important that a marriage be between believers (II Cor. 6:14). However, there are no retractions for bad decisions in marriage partners in God’s Word. No matter the spiritual status, one is still committed to upholding his part of the marriage as the Lord commands.

There are many marriage failures because couples do not adhere to God’s way but try to cohabit the way “everyone else is doing it”. When a marriage fails, it is usually because someone is not holding up their end of God’s commandments for that person.

Submission in a marriage is not just between the wife and her husband. The husband also has a part in making a marriage work. His part is not just surrendering to his wife, but he is to love his wife as Christ loves His church (vs. 25) and as much as he loves his own body (vs. 28, 33). One should not want to do wrong to one’s body; he must only want to do what is right and best for his wife.

As a husband and wife submit themselves to Christ, they should also submit themselves to each other. God’s way works.

“If a child of God marries a child of the devil, the child of God will surely have trouble with his father-in-law.” — Author Unknown

The Differences between Men and Women
Author Unknown

In the current world, many are trying to make both sexes the same and even confuse their roles. God has created men and women and has made them different, with strengths and weaknesses.

When married, God can use a man’s strengths to complement a woman’s weaknesses and take the strengths of a wife to make up for the husband’s shortcomings. The two different halves can produce a stronger whole.

This article from an unknown author (before 1871) points out some of the differences between men and women and shows the strengths they can bring to a marriage:

Man is strong; woman is beautiful.
Man is daring and confident; woman is diffident (“showing modest reserve”) and unassuming.
Man is great in action; woman is long-suffering.
Man shines abroad; woman excels at home.
Man talks to convince; woman to persuade.
Man has a rugged heart; woman, a soft and tender one.
Man prevents misery; woman relieves it.
Man has science; woman taste.
Man has judgment; woman sensibility.
Man is a being of justice; woman has mercy.

Each possesses peculiar gifts and a wide sphere of usefulness, and, by the wise use of these respective gifts, society is benefited, a marriage is strengthened, and God is honored.

“As a husband and wife grow closer to God, they also grow closer to each other!”

The Marriage Institution
Excerpts from Bible Reading for the Home, 1943

After creating man, what did God say?
“And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Gen. 2:18
What did God say He would make?
A help meet for him (Gen. 2:18).
Could such a help be found among the creatures God had already made? No.
“… but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.” Gen. 2:20
What did God do to remedy Adam’s need? God made Adam a mate.
“… And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” Gen. 2:21-22
What did Adam say as he received his wife from God?
“And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Gen. 2:23
What great truth was then stated?
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Gen. 2:24
What did Jesus say about marriage?
“Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” Mat. 19:6

“Marriages may be made in Heaven, but man is responsible for the maintenance work.” — Changing Times

Marriage Is Not a Mission Field
Author Unknown

Mark Twain, the well-known American humorist, fell in love with Miss Olivia Langdon. “Livy,” as he called her, grew up in a Christian home and held firm religious convictions. Mark Twain made no profession of faith, although he appeared to have been touched by Livy’s life.

Mark Twain and Olivia Langdon were married. Early in their marriage, Mark regularly asked for a blessing at mealtime and joined in family worship, but this did not last.

One day, Twain announced, “Livy, I don’t believe in the Bible.” Bit by bit, Mark Twain’s lack of faith worked like a cancer destroying his wife’s spiritual life.

Later, during a period of pressing sorrow, he tried to strengthen Livy by saying, “Livy, if it comforts you to lean on the Christian faith, do so.”

His wife sadly replied, “Mark, I can’t. I haven’t it anymore!”

Marriage is not a mission field. God never called one into marriage to convert one’s partner.

Marriage strains under the burden of an unshared faith. Not only will you harm the person with whom you join your life, but you will harm yourself if your partner is not a Christian. Too much is at stake to ignore God’s commandment.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” II Cor. 6:14

“If you never date an unsaved person, you will never marry one!”

The BIBLE VIEW #992 — Lying

In This Issue:
Lying Lips
Real Christians With A Trustworthy Testimony
The Boss Is Never Out!
You Can’t Fool God

Volume: 992 February 3, 2025
Theme: Lying

Read what readers have said about the e-mailed devotion at
https://www.devotionsfromthebible.com/what-readers-say

Lying Lips
Bill Brinkworth

From a young age, most know it is wrong to lie. Perhaps it is an innate guilt or a learned ”no-no” from reprimands from parents, friends, or teachers.

The unacceptance of untruths is universally frowned upon, and the bearer of falsehoods is often mistrusted and avoided. One should learn quickly that dishonesty is not an accepted behavior.

A lie exposed has cost many future suspicions from friends, fellow workers, and casual and long-time acquaintances. Because of discovered untruths, relationships have been shattered, jobs have been lost, and even jail time has been the penalty for many who lied.

Lying lips have cost many much more than ever realized. God also does not tolerate falsehoods and demands people, especially Christians, be true to their word.

God’s Word, the Bible, has much to say and warn about untruths:

God and His Son, Jesus, are honest. Since believers should be like their Saviour, Christ-like, we should also be truthful.
“That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:” Hebrews 6:18
“In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; “ Titus 1:2

God hates untruths!
“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.” Proverbs 12:22

God commands us not to lie!
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Exodus 20:16
“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” I John 3:18

Lies are often told because of pride.
“For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.” Psalm 59:12
“The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.” Psalm 119:69

Liars twist and change God’s truths to enable them to do what they desire rather than what God commands.
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 1:25

Although usually our weak flesh succumbs to dishonesty, often people may be encouraged to lie by Satan’s influence. Since an unsaved person does not typically heed God’s commandments it may be easier to follow the leading of God’s and humanity’s enemy.“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44

God knows who is honest.
“The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.” II Corinthians 11:31

A good witness of a situation should tell the truth of what was seen, heard, or experienced.
“A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.” Proverb 14:5 Also: Exodus 23:1.
“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Exodus 20:16 “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.” Proverbs 19:5
“A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.” Proverbs 21:28

ALWAYS be honest.
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” Colossians 3:9
“Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.” Psalm 31:18
“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” Ephesians 4:22-23
“Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue.” Psalm 120:2

We can lie about anything, including about being right with God.
“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” I John 1:6
“I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.” I John 2:21
“Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” Revelation 3:9

Because of the rejection of God’s will and way, our world has become one of dishonesty, distrust, misdirection, and deceit. It is a tolerated sin among politicians, police, and most people. It should not be.

Dishonesty separates many and breeds mistrust. This must stop for a society to be healed and get along with each other. Start today, especially if you are a born-again child of God. Always tell the truth!

“Your words are the most valuable possessions you have. Do they have
great value from those who know you, or are they remembered as possibly a distortion, deception, or a lie?”

Real Christians With A Trustworthy Testimony
Sunday School Times

In her book, Floods on Dry Ground, Eva Stuart Watt described missionary work in the Belgian Congo, and said, “Even among the enemies of the Gospel there was growing secret admiration for those whose lives were out and out for God.

The term “Bakrustu ya kweli,” was often heard from heathen lips. It means “real Christians.” Far and wide the believers were known as men of truth and men whose prayers were answered.

One day the paramount chief had a big court case in which a Christian was charged with hiding a Mabuda prisoner. At the tribunal, the chief said to the accused, “Tell me, did you hide that man?”

“No, Chief. I didn’t.”

Then turning to his soldiers, he said, “You liars, the lot of you. This man is a ‘Bakrustu ya kweli!’ He couldn’t tell a lie!”

“A liar is not believed even when he tells the truth.” — Cicero

The Boss Is Never Out
Sunday School Times

A storekeeper went away for the day and left a clerk in charge. A customer came in and asked a favor of the clerk, which meant he would have to do something dishonest.

“You can do it, if you want,” argued the customer, “because your boss is out.”

The clerk looked the man in the face, and said, “You are mistaken. My Boss is Jesus Christ, and He is never out!”

“Aye, sir: to be honest as this world goes is to be one man picked out of a thousand.”— Shakespeare

You Can’t Fool God
Granville Kleiser

You can fool the hapless public,
You can be a subtle fraud,
You can hide your little meanness,
But you can’t fool God!

You can advertise your virtues,
You can self-achievement laud,
You can load yourself with riches,
But you can’t fool God!

You can criticize the Bible,
You can be a selfish clod,
You can lie, swear, drink, and gamble
But you can’t fool God!

You can magnify your talent,
You can hear the world applaud,
You can boast yourself somebody,
But you can’t fool God!

“Of more worth is one honest man to society and in the sight of God, than all the crowned ruffians that ever lived.” — Thomas Paine