We’ve all heard the story haven’t we. The puppet who longs to become a real boy. One of the hurdles he has to overcome before he can realise his dream, however, is his lying tongue. He’s a lovely boy except that he lies. And every time he lies his nose grows longer.

Of course, the truth is that when real boys and girls, (and men and women for that matter) tell lies, their noses don’t grow. No one sees it. We might get caught out, but then again we might not. But here’s the thing. God sees it all.

We might live our entire lives pretending that everything we say is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. But we all know don’t we, that that is nothing but a dirty little lie.

We twist it just a little. Or we blame someone else when we are at fault. Or we bend the truth just to protect ourselves. You know it’s true. And just because our noses don’t grow we think that nobody sees. But please hear me – God sees. And what’s more God is deeply, deeply offended. And whether we like it or not, He will hold every one of us to account, including me. I too am a liar. Were it not for God’s abundant grace, I’d sell my own family just to protect myself.

Of course, the great message of the Gospel is that God is a forgiving God. When we acknowledge our sin and humbly fall at His feet, He is ready and eager to forgive. It’s not that He overlooks our lies, He’s already punished it in the cross of His dear Son. We don’t have to pretend. We can come clean, and accept the grace that God freely bestows on a world of sin. We can stop being puppets and start being real. What an amazing God we serve.

Pastor Duncan