Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, (Ephesians 6:14 ESV)
The truth is conspicuously absent from our world. It seems as if everyone, from politicians to corporations have a certain something they want from us. Whether it’s our money or our vote, or even both, there’s an incentive for some to hide or obscure the truth from others. And when our society lives in the dark, we should not be surprised at unrighteousness and dark deeds. The tendency for humanity is to “suppress the truth” (Romans 1:18) in order to hide or excuse our rebellion against God. This tendency is played out on both a macro and micro scale every day. It happens on TV, in our school hallways, and in the break room at work.
When we exchange the “truth about God for a lie” (Romans 1:25) unrighteousness will follow. Our enemy leads and traps many of us in this kind of living. We can succumb to doubt and begin to put away our faith, or simply suppress the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We can weave lies for our own benefit and allow ourselves to become captive to a defeated master. Truth and righteous living are inseparable, for when we know the truth Jesus revealed (John 18:37) about the Father of lights, we are set free from bondage to sin (John 8:32). At the same time, our dead heart of stone is exchanged for a living heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26), and our greatest desire is no longer to gratify ourselves, but to glorify our God! Read your Bible daily, fasten God’s truth upon yourself, and guard your body with righteous living.
Where in your life have you believed lies and walked in unrighteousness?