Down an Unfamiliar Road

10/12/26

Jonah 2:6-7: We just heard John say how he sank beneath the waves, and death was very near. The waters closed above him; the seaweed wrapped itself around his head. Now he continues his story: “I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; Yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God. When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple.”

Jonah now tells us how far down he sank while drowning in the sea. He said he sank until “the moorings of the mountains.” This is the deep, hidden foundations of the earth planted at the bottom of the sea, symbolizing the absolute lowest point of creation and the threshold of the underworld. And what happened there? Jonah says, “Its bars closed behind me forever.” These bars represent permanent gates or prison locks closing Jonah off from the land of the living with no human way of escape. Then what did God do? He “brought up my life from the pit.” “Pit” is a Hebrew word for the grave, Sheol, or destruction, highlighting that Jonah viewed his sinking as a descent into death. This is important because “You have brought up my life,” shifts the focus from Jonah’s despair to God’s sovereign grace, showing that divine intervention can reach places where human rescue is impossible. 

This represents the depth of disobedience vs. the depth of mercy: Jonah ran from God’s call and landed at the bottom of the sea, yet God’s mercy proved deeper than Jonah’s rebellion. The prophet’s experience in the deep and subsequent delivery is viewed in biblical tradition (and referenced by Jesus in Matthew 12:40) as a prefiguring of death and resurrection. Then, by Jonah using the covenant name “LORD (Yahweh) and the possessive “my God,” signals that Jonah’s heart has turned back to fellowship and repentance while still inside the fish. 

Then Jonah tells us that my soul gave up all hope. The phrase “fainted” (or ebbing away) describes a person covered in the dark shadows of exhaustion, suffocation, and the near-certainty of death. Keep in mind, Jonah is trapped deep inside the belly of a great fish, after sinking to the roots of the mountains and having the seaweed wrap around his head. He has reached the end of his own strength, completely stripped of control. Usually, when a person’s heart and mind faint, memory and rational thought fail. However, Jonah’s desperation activates his memory. He remembered the Lord—not just God’s existence, but His covenant, His mercy, his past faithfulness, and His readiness to forgive the repentant. Although Jonah had run away from God’s mission to Nineveh, he recalled that Yahweh remains merciful. 

This is Jonah praying from the Depths to the Heights: Jonah prays from the lowest, darkest place imaginable (the belly of the fish/Sheol/the pit), yet his prayer pierces through the physical barrier and reaches God’s “holy temple.” The “holy temple” here refers primarily to God’s dwelling place in the highest heavens, rather than an earthly building, though it looks toward God’s gracious presence described in passages like 2 Chronicles 7:15. This also highlights that no depth is too low, and no distance is too far, for a sincere, turning cry to reach the ear of God. Jonah’s crisis exposes how human self-management and pride fail when life collapses. Salvation begins only when that control is surrendered to God. God allowed Jonah to hit rock bottom not to destroy him, but to refine him, break his rebellion, and turn his heart back to divine grace. 

What spiritual implications for believers are found in these verses? Believers learn from that God’s power can reach down to the lowest and darkest places of human despair, and that true spiritual restoration begins the moment a person stops running and remembers the Lord in prayer. Believers are also reminded that no physical, emotional, or spiritual low point is beyond the reach of God’s redemptive power. Spiritual recovery often starts not with immediate physical relief, but with a deliberate mental and heart-level turn back toward God’s character and presence. In addition, believers learn that geographic location, isolation, or the consequences of past disobedience do not block communication with God; sincere prayer penetrates straight to His throne. What often feels like divine abandonment or punishment is often a tool of divine grace used to strip away self-reliance and wake up a dormant faith.

10/10/26

While I was watching the Freedom 250 Grand Prix race in Washington, D.C. in August, they flashed the name Will Power, an Australian professional race car driver who was competing, up on the screen. I thought to myself, it would be easy to remember that name because people often talk about having the willpower to go, to take an opportunity to move forward, to never give up, to never give in, and to never surrender. As soon as Will Power’s picture disappeared, they ran a commercial about “Power Management.” Then I thought, what a great theme that makes: “Willpower Management!” So, I decided to look up the definition of “willpower,” not the name but the phrase, and it said: “Willpower is the ability to use self-control to override short-term temptations, impulses, or instant gratification to achieve long-term goals. It means guiding your own thoughts, emotions, and actions through strong determination, even when facing difficult situations. It also means stopping yourself from doing things that feel good now but hurt you later. And to finish the job you started.”

While early research described willpower as a limited energy source that drains like a muscle, modern studies show that mindset, motivation, and environmental design matter just as much as raw self-control. They see that self-control is a tug-of-war between the impulsive reward system (basal ganglia) and the goal-tracking prefrontal cortex. Classic theory suggests mental energy wears down through constant use, a state known as ego depletion. However, newer research shows people who believe willpower is unlimited rarely experience severe depletion, proving mindset plays a massive role. Psychologists tell us to change our environment so we do not have to rely on constant resistance. We should also use “if-then” plans to automate our choices before temptation hits. Also, protect your focus by getting enough rest and reducing daily stress. 

Then I turned to the Bible and found that it teaches that human willpower alone is limited and weak. Instead of relying on pure self-determination, Scripture refers to willpower as “self-control,” which is viewed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. True spiritual victory comes through surrendering one’s desires to God and relying on His strength rather than human effort alone. Jesus noted in Matthew 26:41 that “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak,” meaning good intentions fail when physical or human nature takes over. The Apostle Paul’s struggle: In Romans 7:15, Paul expressed frustration that he did the things he hated and failed to do the good things he wanted to do, proving self-reliance falls short. Also, Galatians 5:22-23 lists self-control as a product of the Holy Spirit working in a person, rather than a trait generated entirely on one’s own, and 2 Timothy 1:7 states that God gives believers a spirit of power, love, and self-control instead of fear. When believers look to Philippians 4:13, it shows that strength to endure and do what is right comes through the Christ. And 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that God provides a way of escape during temptation so people do not have to rely only on their breaking point. 

10/09/26

Obadiah 1:11 During the prophet’s vision, he heard the Lord say that Edom would be covered with shame because they were very cruel to their brother Jacob, and that they would suffer complete defeat. Then he heard the Lord tell the Edomites why: “In the day that you stood on the other side—in the day that strangers carried captive his [Jerusalem’s] forces, when foreigners entered his gates and cast lots for Jerusalem—Even you were as one of them.” In this verse, God condemns the nation of Edom for their cruel betrayal during the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC. Instead of aiding their kindred nation of Israel, the Edomites stood idly by, passively watched foreign invaders loot the city, and actively participated in the plundering of their brother. 

It all began when they “Stood on the other side.” This signifies a deliberate choice to remain indifferent; instead of acting as brothers to defend against a common enemy, they not only took delight in watching the spectacle, but they actively switched sides to join the Babylonians. This happened when “strangers carried away captive his forces…”: The Babylonians breached the walls of Jerusalem, taking the Judean army and citizens into exile after “they entered into his gates…”: This phrase highlights the invasion of God’s holy city and the desecration of the capital. 

After that, the Babylonian troops “…cast lots upon Jerusalem…”: The conquering soldiers gambled on how to divide the spoils, pillage the city, and decide the fate of the captured refugees. What made it so devastating was that the Edomites acted as though they were “one of them“: This is the core indictment. Though Edom was not the primary invading force, their passive approval and complicity in dividing the spoils made them just as guilty as the Babylonians in the eyes of God

But you should not have gazed on the day of your brother in the day of his captivity; nor should you have rejoiced over the children of Judah in the day of their destruction; nor should you have spoken proudly in the day of distress. (v. 12). Here, Obadiah condemns the nation of Edom for gloating, rejoicing, and speaking proudly over the destruction, misfortune, and distress of their brother nation, Judah. Had they forgotten that they descended from Esau, and Judah descended from Jacob—twin brothers. That’s why, because of this close family tie, Edom owed Judah loyalty, empathy, and protection. Celebrating or mocking Judah’s downfall violated basic kinship and human solidarity by betraying them when Jerusalem fell to Babylon around 586 BC.

Furthermore, Edom did not just passively observe; they gazed with satisfaction and pleasure as Judah became alienated and displaced, taking active emotional delight in Judah’s ruin and destruction. They spoke with scorn, boasting, and self-exaltation while Judah suffered. They learned that God judges not only open, violent acts of war, but also the secret and expressed malice of the heart.

What spiritual implications are found in these verses for believers? Believers can learn that indifference and gloating when others suffer are dangerous. Indifference is a Sin (The Sin of Omission). For believers, neutrality in the face of another person’s suffering is not safety; it is complicity. God holds us accountable not just for the bad things we actively do, but for the good things we choose not to do when we have the power to help. Believers must learn that indifference is a natural human temptation, a secret sense of satisfaction (schadenfreude) when someone we dislike, or someone who has wronged us, fails. However, God explicitly forbids gloating. True faith requires empathy, not rejoicing in someone else’s ruin. Believers should remember that they are called to a high standard of community and family care. We have a spiritual responsibility to protect, support, and stand up for our “brothers and sisters”—both our biological families and our global spiritual family. Watching someone else face hardship should humble us, not puff us up. It serves as a reminder of our own vulnerability and our absolute dependence on God’s grace.

10/08/26

Titus 2:6-8 The Apostle Paul had just instructed Titus to guide older women to keep up their lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness, so that by looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone frowning on God’s Message they are following because of their behavior. Now Paul continues his directives: “Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”

In this part of the message, Paul instructs Titus to urge younger men in the Cretan church to govern their impulses, think reasonably, and live balanced, disciplined lives that reflect sound Christian doctrine. This is a clear call to self-control. The Greek word used here for “sober-minded” implies having a sound mind, being in one’s right senses, and keeping strong passions and desires under proper restraint. Paul knew that younger men often face strong temptations toward being brash, impulsive, proud, or volatile. Paul singles out this specific trait for them because self-restraint is vital to counter reckless living. That means young men should stop living purely for the moment, recognizing the weight of eternity and acting with prudence and care in daily choices. Living a self-controlled life protects the reputation of the church, ensuring that the word of God is not mocked or maligned by outsiders. 

Then Paul tells the young church leader Titus to model good deeds in every area of life. Paul urges Titus to match his lifestyle with his message, showing purity, seriousness, and deep respect when teaching God’s truth. In other words, Titus must live out what he preaches so others can watch and learn. Good behavior is not just for public church meetings; it applies to every part of daily life. Actions must match the grace and salvation taught in the faith. This will require Titus to teach pure truth of Scripture without mixing in false ideas or personal agendas. All ministers must treat the word of God with deep respect and a sober, focused mind instead of joking about holy things. In addition, a leader’s daily life must support and prove the message they speak. 

Furthermore, says Paul, teaching sound doctrine ensures that opponents of the faith are put to shame because they can find no legitimate fault or evil thing to say against the believers or their message. The phrase “sound speech” translates to healthy, life-giving words that contrast sharply with the deceitful talk of false teachers in Crete. It requires that one’s speech must be completely honest, thoughtful, and accurate to scriptural truth so that no one can legally or morally criticize it. In Paul’s mind, this applies to both formal preaching and everyday casual conversations, requiring integrity in every spoken word. Keep in mind, says Paul, non-Christians often watch believers closely, waiting for hypocrisy or inconsistent behavior. Therefore, when a leader’s speech and life are pure, hostile critics are left without any true ammunition or valid reason to attack. This is a way communication safeguards the reputation of the Christian community and makes the message of God attractive to outsiders.

What spiritual implications for believers are found in these verses? Believers learn that personal discipline, uncorrupt speech, and a blameless lifestyle validate the Gospel and silence outside criticism. Believers are also reminded to be sober-minded and sensible, mastering their impulses rather than being driven by worldly passions. Youth or inexperience is not an excuse for carelessness; spiritual maturity requires taking one’s walk with God seriously. They also learn that actions must match proclamation, serving as an active pattern of good deeds for others in the faith. Living and teaching with truthfulness means personal and spiritual purity that cannot be bought, swayed, or compromised by hidden agendas, because living and speaking with absolute transparency deprives adversaries of legitimate grounds to mock our Christ and His teachings. 

10/07/26

Psalm 17:10-12 David had just prayed to the Lord and pleaded with Him to save him from the wicked people who are trying to destroy him, and to protect him from those who come to hurt him. The reason for such a prayer request: David said that they have closed up their fat hearts; with their mouths they speak proudly. They have now surrounded us in our steps; they have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, as a lion is eager to tear his prey, and like a young lion lurking in secret places. David is very specific here when he accuses his enemies of thinking only of themselves and bragging about what they will do. The phrase “closed up their fat hearts” represents physical abundance and material prosperity that leads to spiritual numbness. Just as excess fat can dull bodily senses or surround an organ so it cannot work freely, continuous luxury and self-sufficiency insulate a person’s soul from feeling compassion, conviction, or holy fear. Then David adds, “with their mouth they speak proudly.” This represents arrogance, which is the natural result of an unfeeling, self-satisfied heart. David’s enemies boast against others and utter defiant words against God because they rely completely on their own temporal success rather than divine dependence. It also serves as a caution against letting comfort, pride, and complacency dull our spiritual awareness and empathy for the suffering of others. 

Then describes that he and his companions were surrounded by hostile pursuers who watched their every move with predatory intent to throw them to the ground. Remember, this was written by King David as a prayer for divine justice and protection during a time of intense personal peril (likely while fleeing from King Saul). The phrase “compassed us in our steps” pictures hunters or soldiers completely cutting off all avenues of escape. David feels the tightening circle of his enemies around himself and his loyal men. They do this, says David, with their “Eyes bowing down to the earth,” which carries dual imagery in biblical commentary: A hunter or lion keeping low to the ground, stealthily tracking footsteps, and waiting for the exact moment to pounce. This is nothing but deceit and cunning. It means pretending humility or hiding malicious designs by looking down submissively while secretly plotting a trap or laying a net in the earth. 

Now David compares ruthless pursuers to a ravenous lion eager to tear its prey and a young lion lurking in hidden places. The Greedy Lion represents raw, terrifying power, cruelty, and an insatiable appetite to destroy or rend flesh. As such, his enemies have callous hearts, arrogant speech, and watchful eyes tracking the psalmist to cast him to the ground. Then David uses the metaphor of “young lions.” This denotes a strong, active lion at the peak of youthful vigor, crouching or lurking in secret places (ambush). We should note that while verse 11 speaks of enemies in the plural, verse 12 shifts to a singular likeness (“He is like a lion”), zooming in on the chief pursuer (such as Saul) or the archetype of the ruthless persecutor. As we can see, David does not minimize or romanticize his danger; he openly acknowledges the lethal malice of his foes before God. In fact, the predatory nature of opposition mirrors 1 Peter 5:8, where the devil prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour, teaching believers to stay vigilant while trusting in divine shelter 

What spiritual implications do these verses have for believers? While believers navigate modern spiritual warfare, toxic environments and trials await to keep them from reaching their goal. One spiritual lesson for believers is that material wealth and self-reliance can numb a person’s conscience and harden their heart toward both God and others. Believers are reminded to intentionally practice humility and empathy, ensuring that worldly comfort does not choke out spiritual sensitivity or compassion. Believers must keep in mind that the pride of the wicked stems from a false sense of security in their own strength, wealth, and immediate circumstances. Furthermore, such arrogance is a primary indicator of a heart operating independently of God. When believers face mockery or proud opposition, they must remember that arrogance is spiritually hollow. True security is never found in human status, but only in a quiet trust in God’s righteousness. 

Also, the spiritual battles believers face are rarely random; they are often calculated and stealthy. Believers must maintain spiritual sobriety and constant vigilance. An enemy may be waiting in secret—through sudden temptation, toxic relational dynamics, or unexpected crises—requiring us to stay anchored in Scripture and prayer. Even though a believer’s daily life is surrounded by opponents actively trying to bring them down, they must not take matters into their own hands or retaliate with violence. Instead, funnel your extreme pressure directly into a targeted appeal to God. So, when believers feel hemmed in by circumstances, unfair criticism, or spiritual oppression, their immediate reflex should be prayer, not panic. Rather than matching the hostility of the world, believers are called to hand their defense over to God, trusting Him as their ultimate refuge and just judge. 

10/06/26

1 Peter 1:22-25 Peter had just told his readers that they are to believe in God through the Christ, because God is the one who raised Him from death and gave honor to Him, so their faith and their hope are in God. Peter now goes on to add additional weight to what he has already said about their coming to faith in God and His Son Jesus. He now tells them, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” Peter bridges foundational Christian salvation with practical relational ethics, declaring that believers who have purified their souls by obeying the truth must earnestly love one another deeply from the heart. Peter roots the command for mutual love not in human effort, but in the prior work of spiritual cleansing and regeneration. 

Let’s examine the basis of love, which is purification and truth. Food-for-thought: After believers have purified their souls, they can point back to an accomplished, foundational cleansing at conversion. That implies that this purification happens through active faith and submission to the gospel message. It also defines our status before action: this identity change precedes the moral command; Christians love because they are already transformed. That opens the door for sincere brotherly love: That is, an affection for fellow believers must be sincere, genuine, and free from hypocrisy. Take note: the Greek term for “fervently” implies stretching to the limit, indicating a deliberate, sacrificial, and strenuous commitment to one another. This signifies that true Christian love is internal and authentic, originating from a core that has been morally renewed. 

Peter then clarifies that believers have “been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” This teaches that spiritual rebirth comes from God’s eternal word, creating a permanent new life that contrasts with temporary human existence. When speaking of being “born again,” it is a spiritual rebirth or a fresh start given by God. Unlike normal human life and physical birth, which do not last forever, God’s nature and life never fade or die. That’s because it is the unchanging and eternal message of God (the Gospel) that brings spiritual life. This results in a permanent change: Human life is fragile like grass, but the new spiritual life God gives comes from His eternal word, making it secure forever. 

The apostle then quotes Isaiah 40:6–8 to contrast the temporary, fading nature of human life and earthly glory with the permanent, eternal character of God’s word. He emphasizes that human strength and accomplishments are fragile and short-lived, much like wild grass and field flowers. In this illustration, “all flesh” refers to humanity in its natural, mortal, and fallen state, while the “glory of man” represents human achievements, beauty, status, wealth, and power. Unfortunately, all of this will wither and fall. This signifies how quickly life ends and earthly prestige fades under the heat of trials or the passage of time. Peter then contrasts human existence that dries up as grass with the “word of the Lord endures forever”—which he explicitly identifies as the Gospel message preached to believers. This eternal word acts as the incorruptible seed through which Christians are born again, giving them a share in that eternal life rather than temporary vanity. 

What spiritual implications for believers are found in these verses? Believers learn that obeying God’s truth purifies their souls for genuine love, and they are reborn through God’s eternal, unchanging word rather than temporary human life. This spiritual rebirth empowers Christians to love one another deeply and earnestly from a pure heart. By obeying the truth found in God’s Word, it cleanses the soul and prepares believers to love family members in the faith with a love that is real, deep, and eager rather than fake or forced. It also replaces a believer’s temporary human mortality (grass and flowers) with God’s permanent word, the living message of the gospel that never fades away. Whenever a believer opens their Bible to read what it says, remember what Jesus said: “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words remain forever” [Matthew 24:35].

10/05/26

Amos 1:13: God told Amos that he would set fire to Teman, and it would burn down all the forts of Bozrah, which were ancient, heavily fortified strongholds located in Edom, which lies in modern-day Jordan. But God is not finished. Now He tells Amos, “For three transgressions of the people of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away its punishment, because they ripped open the women with child in Gilead, that they might enlarge their territory.” Here, God pronounces judgment on the Ammonites for extreme wartime brutality. This highlights divine accountability for inhumane atrocities and the violation of basic human life for territorial gain. 

The Ammonites were descendants of Lot and blood relatives of Israel, yet they harbored deep hostility and malice. We also know from detailed historical and traditional insights that God set strict moral boundaries for neighboring nations, whether they acknowledged the Mosaic covenant or not. He charged them with “three transgressions… and for four.” This is a poetic Hebrew idiom meaning a full measure of sin has been reached. They were accused of ripping open pregnant women, which represents an unspeakable act of terror aimed at total subjugation. Thus, God said, “I will not turn away its punishment,” signaling that the decree of discipline will not be revoked and is final and unchangeable. Their motivation was greed for land (“to enlarge their border“), showing that economic or territorial ambition drove their merciless violence. This barbaric tactic targeted the most vulnerable, displaying a complete collapse of natural human compassion and basic decency. 

“But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour its palaces, amid shouting in the day of battle, and a tempest in the day of the whirlwind. Their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, says the Lord.” (vv. 14-15). Then God pronounces divine judgment on Rabbah, the capital city of Ammon. God declares He will start a destructive fire on its walls to consume its fortresses, accompanied by the terrifying chaos of battle cries and a violent whirlwind storm. Rabbah was the chief royal city of the Ammonites. The first mention of Rabbah in Deuteronomy 3:11 notes it as the location holding the massive iron bed (or sarcophagus) of Og, king of Bashan. Also, Joshua 13:25 lists the city as a landmark defining the tribal territory boundary assigned to Gad.

Ammon was judged for extreme wartime atrocities, specifically ripping open pregnant women in Gilead to expand their territory. They will see their palaces go up in flames. “Fire” symbolizes military invasion and destruction breaking out against Ammon’s ruling class and secure structures. That would cause “shouting” by the Ammonites in the middle of a “tempest.” This tempest (whirlwind) represents the sudden, irresistible, and overwhelming nature of God’s incoming judgment. This prophecy pointed toward future military devastation and exile brought upon the Ammonitic leadership.

Amos concludes the prophecy against Ammon by declaring, “Their king will go into exile, He and his princes together,” says the LORD. This finalizes God’s judgment on a nation punished for extreme wartime atrocities, specifically ripping open pregnant women in Gilead to expand their borders. The consequences of their brutality was the total dismantling of political power, with both the monarch and official princes led away into captive exile. This told the Ammonites that sovereign nations face moral accountability before God for gross violations of basic human rights and violence against the defenseless. Earthly rank offers no shelter; kings and princes face the same downfall as common citizens before divine justice. The emphatic closing phrase “says the LORD” guarantees the absolute certainty that the prophecy will come to pass. 

What spiritual implications for believers are in these verses? Ambition requires boundaries. Pursuing success at the expense of others invites spiritual ruin. That’s because selfishness blinds one’s conscience, and unchecked desire for more leads to a hardened heart. Believers must keep in mind that disregarding the worth of other people angers God. He holds those in power accountable for how they treat the weak. Furthermore, no sin is hidden from Him; therefore, judgment cannot be escaped. Thus, these verses speak of spiritual accountability for believers. Knowing this, believers must ensure their goals do not harm or devalue others.

10/03/26

I was listening to a panel that was discussing all the polling going on in the political arena about the upcoming and future elections. One of the panelists said something that I had been thinking for a long time but never heard expressed the way he did. He said that these pollsters are not interested in telling us what the people in the poll were saying, but what they wish they were saying. . Then it struck me: are there preachers today who are not telling their congregations what the Bible says, but preach what they want it to say?? After some research, I found that a person who deliberately twists the truth to fit their own narrative is commonly called a prevaricator. In other words, someone who fabricates a new truth. Depending on their specific goal or behavior, a few exact terms fit this habit. Such people lie out of habit, often make up big stories, and may eventually believe their own lies. They may also do this on purpose to gain money, power, or trust. They also twist the truth to make you doubt your own memory or sanity. In other words, this is someone who avoids the truth or speaks misleadingly without technically telling a direct lie.

I wanted to know what psychologists said about prevaricators. They also say that skilled prevaricators do not look like stereotypical liars. They are experts at social regulation. They deliberately master vocal tones, maintain strong eye contact, adopt erect and relaxed postures, and act with a direct, hearty manner to circumvent a listener’s suspicion. Psychologists also say that frequent prevarication rapidly transitions from a conscious choice into a compulsive habit. Because it becomes a primary coping mechanism, chronic liars rarely stop “cold turkey.” Often, they can tolerate only a partial amount of reality at a time. Psychologists observe that it usually takes a severe, tangible threat to their emotional, physical, or financial well-being to force a habitual prevaricator to take off the mask and learn how to deal with the truth.

That turned my attention to what God’s word had to say about prevaricators. I found that the Bible warns that people who twist the truth or distort God’s word do so to their own spiritual destruction and to mislead others. For instance, in 2 Peter 3:16-17, Peter explains that ignorant and unstable people twist Paul’s letters—and the rest of the Scriptures—to their own destruction. Then, in Acts 20:30, the Bible warns that teachers will rise from within the church itself, speaking distorted things to draw followers after themselves rather than the Christ. Also, John 8:44 describes deception and twisting the truth as originating with the devil, calling him a liar and the father of lies. Furthermore, in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, God’s Word predicts a time when people will not endure sound teaching, instead turning away from truth to follow myths and their own desires. The Bible instructs believers to combat distorted truth with careful study and honesty and urges them to present themselves as approved workers who correctly handle the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Even in the Old Testament, we read that Proverbs 30:5-6 warns against adding to God’s words, lest He reprove you and prove you a liar.