How to Self-Destruct

Have you ever told a lie and gotten away with it?

In other words, you lied and no one noticed, no one figured it out.

Whatever you might call it—white lie, fib, fabrication, farce, fairy tale, faulty fact, stretching the truth, half-truth, deception, loop-hole—it is a lie.

When caught in a lie, some people admit that the lie was a lie but try to justify the lie, that is, they try to explain how the lie was a good thing; they make lying out to be the correct behavior. Other people admit their lie but try to rationalize it by explaining how it was necessary; it was wrong, but there was no other way. (Still others simply refuse to admit their lie.)

Why do we (humans) attempt to justify and rationalize lying?

The reason is twofold but simple: We intuitively understanding that lying is wrong and we wish to avoid guilt. At the same time, we do not want to be branded as a liar and lose respect and trust. So, when we lie and begin to sense guilt, the mind then attempts to protect itself with justifications and rationalizations. Both soothe the conscience in to thinking that ‘I’ should not be held responsible for the lie.

You might have seen the conscience illustrated as a person with an angel figure on one shoulder and a devil figure on the opposite shoulder. Each whispers into the closest ear trying to influence a choice, good vs evil. There might be some truth to that illustration, and yet, often the battle is within. The evil desires of the body wish to take control. The human spirit (emotion, intellect, human will) desires control. Worldly desires within try to influence the soul when the soul has placed a value on truth. The conscience stands as judge to make a moral evaluation and render a verdict.

Whether the lie was motivated because of making an embarrassing mistake, failure in accomplishing a task, fear of consequences, or something else, the lie is destructive. That is because there is no such thing as ‘my truth’ and ‘your truth.’ Truth is absolute. Truth is that which exists. Truth is reality. Truth is not dependent on ‘me’ discovering it or learning it. Truth exists with or without ‘you’ and with or without ‘me.’ So, a lie does not change the truth but masks over truth so that reality is hidden.

A lie is meant to present falsehood as reality. When that is done it changes the perception of those around us. Because of the lie that is presented, they believe something that is not true. We all make choices and take action based on our perceptions of truth. So, a lie told may change the perceptions of people so that their actions are based on a deception. And remember, although Eve was deceived by the serpent, she was still held accountable for her actions. Reality DID NOT change.

So, whenever you tell a lie, you should not think that your lie affects only you. Your are selfishly influencing those around you to accept your deception as truth. And the way you influence them may be detrimental to them.

Perhaps even more devastating than the harm a lie does to others is the lie that you tell yourself...that it really does not matter. That’s how you destroy yourself. Through the writing of the wise King Solomon God revealed...

A false witness will not go unpunished,

And he who tells lies will not escape.

—Proverbs 19:5

God is very serious about lying. God is very serious about truth. For the sake of your soul and for the sake of others...always tell the truth.

Mark Stinnett

August 30, 2026