How to Speak in a Way that will Last Forever - Proverbs 12:19

Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.   Proverbs 12:19

Here is a proverb that seeks to teach us that it is not only better to speak truth than lies, but it is also far more permanent as well.  Truth will stand forever.  When we speak the truth we are speaking something that is not just true for that moment.  Truth is truth no matter what the time frame or generation.  

Here is something we desperately need to grasp in our current arrogance.  Philosophers of the day hold that there is such a thing as truth for a generation - or for a person.  That is nothing more than falsehood.  Truth stands as truth no matter the time in which it is spoken.  To have truth that is only truth for a time - or a generation - or a nationality - or an individual person is to state that in the end, there is no truth at all.  If truth is changing due to the circumstances of the ages or the whims of the populace - it is not truth but rather is the preference of the moment, season, or century.  

Truth by its very epistemological nature is always truth.  Men do not know this because they reject God - Who alone can speak from Himself eternal truth, which we know in our world as absolute truth.  He can speak such things because He is eternal.  He is all places at all times, and knows all things everywhere at once.  Can we truth any other one to speak with such knowledge and experience?  There is none.

Truthful lips will be established forever.  Although there is not truth that is applicable to only a single generation, people, or individual, there is the ability to speak truth in the midst of a generation - to a specific people - or even to an individual.  When we do this - God will establish our "truthful lips" forever.  Many have spoken and written expounding upon God's truth - and have blessed their generation.  For those who have been preserved in print - they can bless multiple generations.  God will establish their words for they submit to His.  Remember this if you want to speak in a way that will be blessed forever.  Speak according to His Word and He will establish yours.

There is another speaker - one who speaks lies.  That lying tongue will only be for the moment.  I think of all the books written, all the articles penned and typed, all the scripts that were authored, and all the plays, movies, and television shows that were ever produced.  The ones that reject God and a biblical worldview are legion.  In the moment in which they are written, men fawn over their authors - and have even developed sychophantic award shows during which they pat one another on the backs for their achievements.  Too often we bow at the feet of those with an Pulitzer, an Oscar, a Tony, or some other form of self-congratulating award as if they deserve to be heard and heralded.  Yet if their words do not agree with those of God - they will pass as so much more dust to dust.  Their lying words that do not give glory to God will not be remembered past the annals of this earth.  They will fade into oblivion as their authors, who decided that they did not need a Savior or the absolute truth of the gospel, spend eternity in endless flame and horror.  

In every generation the wind of heaven blows and the grass fades.  Every century has watched the flower fall to the ground and the glory of man buried under another civilization.  Yet in the midst of all the years there is one thing that has never changed and will never change in a thousand more generations.  The Word of our God stands forever.  We are to speak according to a Word that will not pass away.  We should state those things that will last forever.  May God deliver us from lying lips - and instead grant to us faithful and truthful lips that delight in speaking His Word.  Such lips as these will last forever - not because of their own worth - but because of the infinite worth of the Word that they speak.