"Imposter"

Why do you think he did it?

Sold out for something wrong,

Was it just the money,

He wanted for so long?

Was it just his nature,

To short-cut what was right,

Compromise integrity,

And not walk in the light.

What makes a man go outlaw?

When no one thinks he would,

What makes him justify it?

When no one thought he could.

Some seem to find the reason,

It’s what they’re looking for,

Say that they’re a victim,

And think they deserve more.

Even if it’s not true,

And clearly based on lie,

They can self-deceive themselves,

And never even try,

To come clean with their choices,

And admit they are wrong,

Make right their offenses,

And sing a different song.

Jesus died to save ‘em,

No doubt it is true,

But if they won’t admit it,

There’s nothing He can do.

Watch out for imposters,

That what the Scriptures teach,

Do your best to help them,

But stay out of their reach.

“We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth…” (Ephesians 4:14, NLT).

The trouble with most lies is that there is enough truth mixed in to make it sound good. But a lie is destructive no matter who speaks it, and if we are not discerning, we will be deceived. The biblical answer to avoid deception and achieve spiritual maturity is “speaking the truth in love.” Biblical truth needs to be rehearsed and applied. And the application is steeped in mercy and compassion, not judgment. Some are so harsh when speaking the truth no one will listen. It’s always a both-and proposition. The truth sets free and love heals, and together they adjust, stabilize and encourage spiritual growth. We become more and more like Jesus, which is the goal of all true believers. Speak the truth in love.

Lord, help us grow past the deception of liars and learn to consistently speak the truth in love, in Jesus’ name.

Art by Jason Rich, jasonrichstudios.com. Thanks, Jason, and God bless you.