LIES, LIES AND MORE LIES

Politicians running for office have a propensity for lying. They lie about their qualifications, about their heritage, about what they will do if elected, and about their opponents. "Going negative" with half-truths, truths taken out of context, and outright fabrications seems to be perfectly acceptable when it comes to politics. The public seems not to care and, in fact, anticipates no better.

We have to agree that falsehoods are hardly confined to politics. The media has always had a difficult time getting the facts straight, even when they sincerely try. It is seldom and only on a rare occasion that a reporter get the facts completely correct. Sometimes, a deliberately negative bias seemed to be skewing a report.

Lies are tearing apart the fabric of our nations. Deliberately distorting the truth is not new, but falsehoods are now so pervasively deliberate in governments and media that all credibility is lost.

Lies and injustice go hand in glove. This point is made by the prophet Isaiah, who perfectly describes what we see daily from our leaders, mainstream media, and even less credible social media.

"No one calls for justice; no own pleads his case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments and speak lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil....

We acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the Lord, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived. So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey." (Isaiah 59:4, 13–15)

It is so evident in South Africa, and not only here, but generally all over the world that there is patently a double standard for justice. Some people are prosecuted mercilessly, while others commit crimes with impunity. Isaiah reminds us that plots are hatched behind closed doors in such an atmosphere.

"They hatch the eggs of vipers and spin a spider's web. Whoever eats their eggs will die, and when one is broken, an adder is hatched. Their cobwebs are useless for clothing; they cannot cover themselves with what they make. Their deeds are evil deeds, and acts of violence are in their hands." (Isaiah 59:5–7)

Whatever else can be said about Elon Musk, he has revealed the depth to which the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have conspired with Twitter to suppress information contrary to their desired narrative. This goes beyond politics. Dirty tricks and plots to deceive cross all lines, and when the power of the state runs amok, trouble is on the horizon. Indeed, as quoted above, "truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey."

One cannot wonder and ask himself 'What is the source of lies?'

Lies, injustice, evil plots - with each come the others. Jesus explained to the evil-minded Pharisees of His day that these sins bring us into bondage. The truth, by contrast, brings freedom. Jesus spared no words with those corrupt leaders as He revealed the source of their lies:

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire." (John 8:44)

Justice cannot survive in an atmosphere of falsehoods. Truth, justice, and impartiality are important to God.

Our lies, our plots and injustices, and our arrogance of thinking we know better than our Creator - all these are bringing us to the brink of destroying all life from this earth. It will be at that moment that our Saviour will return to stop our insanity, to put an end to mankind's lying way of governing and living, and to set up His Kingdom with its capital in Jerusalem.

"This is what the Lord says: 'I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of Truth, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain." (Zechariah 8:3)

What a different world that will be!