Speaking the truth, keeping our word, such is what the law of God demands, but we have all failed. Lying is in our nature. When our honour is threatened, when the truth will make us look bad or cost us something, we hide it. We pretend as if we did not know, as if we did not hear, as if someone else is to blame.

And when we do so, we act in keeping with the ways of the kingdom of darkness. Satan, the father of lies, is opposed to God and all that is true. Just think back to the lies that he told in the Garden and that he still wants us to believe. God is not good. He does not want what is best for us, that is why that one tree is off limits. Death is not real. There is no judgment to come. Eat and drink as you please, we will all go to heaven when we die. You can be like God. Eat from the tree and you can decide for yourself what is right and wrong. This world is yours to do with as you please. These were the lies that Adam heard, these were the lies that tempted him to transfer his allegiance from God to the devil.

And the result was shame. Not glory and honour, but nakedness. A sudden recognition of depravity and failure. Sinners do not belong and cannot dwell in the presence of the holy God. Of course, no one wants this shame to be revealed and broadcast before others, which is why there is a need for blame-shifting, lies, and excuses. Not my failure but the woman. Not my sin but someone else. My honour must be protected, my wickedness must not be exposed.

As descendants of Adam, we have inherited the same sinful nature, and so we have followed the same pattern. Hiding the truth because it exposes our evil. We stand guilty of breaking God’s law, condemned with the devil and his angels, deserving of judgment and ruin. Graciously, however, we have a promise from Christ regarding peace. Because of him, because he came to crush the head of the serpent, we can be delivered from our sin and shame.

Where Adam failed, Jesus did not. Tempted by the devil, he did not believe the father of lies and his promises but held fast to the truth he knew from God. Throughout his life he continued to do the same, speaking the truth no matter the cost to him. When it was his friend Peter, he told him in advance of his betrayal. Pharisees and teachers of the law, he stood up to their bullying and thirst for power. On trial before Pilate, he acknowledged his kingship even though it meant death.

Truth was important to Jesus, it is the will of the Father, and because it governed his life, he was able to bring about the great exchange. Naked and shamed, he was crucified on the cross to bear the judgment that liars deserve, the penalty that falls on all oath-breakers. He died in our place so that we can be forgiven. He died so that we can receive the blessing that was held out to Adam. Eternal life in God’s presence, a place in the kingdom of God.

As citizens of this kingdom we hear Jesus’ call for us to speak what is true, to let our Yes be Yes and our No, No. This is not a road to salvation but is part of the life of those who belong.

Further application

As those who belong to Jesus, we must make it our aim to speak the truth and to keep our promises. How often do we not make plans only to cancel them when something better comes along? Certainly there are times where circumstances change, but on the whole we are quick to give our word and quick to cancel. Living in a digital world certainly does not help. With WhatsApp and email, it costs almost nothing to say Sorry, I can’t make it or I’m running late.

It might seem like a small thing, but letting your Yes be Yes and your No, No begins by taking all your words and commitments seriously. It begins with setting a high threshold for dropping out so that you bear the costs for your words and give more attention to what you say. In our day and age, that is something that will not go unnoticed. It is one of the ways in which we can be salt and light.

A second area in which truthfulness ought to shape our lives is when it comes to the vows that we make. Wedding vows, membership vows—there are important and significant moments where we swear before God and his people. They are not words without meaning. We are bound by them and we must keep them.

A final area for truthfulness is not so much about what we say, but the words of others. God has united us to be part of a new family. A catholic family where we must learn to trust one another. A family where we must not second guess and doubt, we want to take communication at face value. Of course, that does not mean there is no room for checks and balances. Our sinful nature remains and we do not want to put people into temptation, especially when it comes to things like money. But even so, the basic idea is simple: we make it our aim to speak the truth and we trust others in God’s church to do the same.