BLUF: Long Obedience in the Right Direction

Context: In Proverbs 12, Solomon is instructing his son in wisdom. In the verse under scrutiny today, Solomon teaches on the endurance of truth versus the passing nature of lies.

Text: “Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment” (Pr 12:19).

Encouragement: When you step off what I call “Drama Island,” you can gain proper perspective. Because we’re awash in a culture of lies, we have all grown accustomed to being lied to. We just assume lies to be the day’s fare. We live in a culture where we just expect lies as the main course, but occasionally, we meet with people of truth. They are the diamonds in the rough. And Solomon is teaching his son about how to be a diamond. Solomon teaches the wisdom of long obedience in the right and godly direction.

The encouragement is straightforward: Truth endures, whereas lies are temporary. The wise will learn to rise to the top. How? I know that for me, I have a few men to whom I look up. Many are military men. Others are my grandparents (they’re deceased now, but their impact upon my life continues). Another was my father-in-law (he was truly a godly man who has since gone on to his reward). My point is simple: the folks whose impact endures are those people whose lives and ministries were characterized by truth, by long obedience in the right and godly direction.