Truth is a cornerstone, yet it is often twisted and obscured by deceit. The story of Alexi Santana, revealed to be James Hogue, illustrates the tangled web woven by lies, echoing the sentiment that deception ensnares those who practice it. Synonyms for lying—prevarication, mendacity, dissimulation—cloud the clarity of truth, as if renaming the act lessens its wrongness. We are so accustomed to falsehoods that we seek constant affirmation of honesty with phrases like "Honestly" or "You know what I mean?" In the biblical narrative, the first recorded lie emerges when Satan deceives Eve, declaring, "You will not surely die," directly contradicting God's command. Even Eve's response to the serpent, adding "nor shall you touch it" to God's words, strays from the precise truth, whether as an exaggeration or an attempt to fortify the command. Such deviations, even if well-intentioned, reveal the minefield of straying from truth. God's instruction in Exodus 20:16 to not bear false witness stands clear and sufficient; it needs no addition from us. Jesus Christ expands the understanding of truth, declaring in John 8:31-32, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Yet, many resist this truth, claiming it to be relative or situational. The Pharisees, too, denied their bondage to sin, ignoring both their spiritual state and historical subjugation. In contrast, Jesus identifies satan as the father of lies, emphasizing the liberating power of truth against the enslavement of deceit.

Deception often involves the twisting of truth, a tactic employed by satan to mislead and ensnare. This perversion of truth is a craft of destruction, where portions of truth are mixed with error to deceive, as seen in the subtle distortions that lead many astray. Satan, the master-craftsman of deceit, uses this method to cause people to miss the truth of God, twisting it to create confusion and error. This twisting is evident in the actions of false prophets and teachers who distort the straight ways of the Lord, seeking to turn others away from the faith. The scriptures warn that such deception, through the perversion of truth, will reach epidemic proportions in the last days, as satan continues to deceive the whole world without ceasing.

Satan is not committed to the reality of God but to his own agenda. He plays fast and loose with the truth, using lying, exaggerating, downplaying, acting, distracting, and any subterfuge in pursuit of superiority. He may use some truth, but he couches it in ways that are self-serving rather than reflecting reality. The scriptures do not show him opening eyes or taking away understanding that God has given, but he can twist, distort, and encourage human nature to deceive itself regarding available truth. As seen with Eve, he offered an alternative narrative that made it easy to reject what God had said, helping her reinterpret God's words in a way that seemed to benefit her. This twisting of truth contributed to the mess on earth, beginning with seeking knowledge not yet appropriate. Cultivating a love for truth is paramount as a hedge against falling away, for valuing comfort or social harmony over living by God's every word leads to closing one's own eyes and altering beliefs.

The power over mankind begins with satan's ability to deceive, a characteristic first revealed in the encounter with Adam and Eve. This deceptive power persists today, making it crucial to be serious about life's choices. On a larger scale, the recent Obamacare fiasco exemplifies blatant, deliberate lying to achieve political goals. As early as July 2010, those involved knew their promises could not be fulfilled, yet they continued to deceive the American public to gain power over a significant portion of the economy. Satan's way of deceit, through lying and twisting the truth with vague political reasoning, has been fully adopted as a method to conduct government business. When held accountable, they evaded accusations with more lies, and it succeeded, as they were reelected in 2012, feeling authorized to push forward with broader issues. This worked because much of the electorate, also under satan's sway, has shown acceptance of government lying.

The breaking of the ninth commandment, which forbids bearing false witness, reveals a deep struggle with trustworthiness among Israelites, as deception seems almost inherent. Jesus Himself noted this tendency in John 1:46-47, expressing mild surprise or sarcasm when He found Nathanael, an Israelite without deceit, highlighting that a true Israelite should be candid and sincere, reflecting a post-conversion character like Jacob, who became Israel and dealt honestly after earlier deceit. Lying permeates the fabric of life, evident in expressions of disbelief and expectations of dishonesty from advertisers, politicians, and others in authority. Historical instances, from presidential lies to corporate misrepresentations, underscore a culture where falsehood is normalized, often justified as being in the national interest or as wartime disinformation, showing a collective disregard for truth. God, as described in Isaiah 29:13-15, is the epitome of truth, unswervingly faithful, a Rock and Foundation for a true way of life, in stark contrast to satan, who embodies pure deceit. God's plan hinges on the converted knowing His truth, forming the basis for conversion and trust in Him. To be in His Family, one must embody truth as Jesus did, living it now to become leaders and teachers of a life based on revealed truth. The ninth commandment extends beyond courtroom lies to encompass any wrongful word or example that injures, including hypocrisy and self-deception. It parallels the third commandment in emphasizing faithfulness and loyalty in speech and witness before men. Lying often stems from a desire for approval, twisting stories to enhance or diminish one's role, damaging reputations and trust. A good name, more valuable than riches, is built on recognizing, understanding, and submitting to truth in daily life, producing faithfulness. Lying is an act of hatred, bringing ruin to those it targets and returning to destroy the liar, as seen in Proverbs 26:28. It creates a false sense of security, hiding deception that causes loss and pain, and its boomerang effect ensures the liar's wickedness is exposed. The heart, deceitful and desperately wicked as described in Jeremiah 17:9, continually tempts one to lie, a tendency fueled by the prince of the power of the air, a liar from the beginning. To escape this cycle, one must confront faults with mercy and truth, fearing the Lord to depart from evil. The wise and prudent follow truth, consciously choosing not to twist it, understanding that truth ultimately succeeds, while folly in deceit only deceives the deceiver. Keeping this commandment requires overriding internal drives to appear good, ensuring honesty in God's sight to remain pure and glorify Him.

I have grown ever more appalled by the mountainous level of outright, in-your-face twisting of the truth done by public figures. The miniseries Roots, drawn from Alex Haley's book, was presented as the true history of his ancestry, yet it is far from true. Investigative reporters uncovered that Haley plagiarized parts of his book from Harold Courlander's fictional work, The African, leading to a lawsuit and a substantial settlement. Further investigation revealed that much of the writing was done by another writer, Murray Fisher, for Playboy Magazine. Despite these revelations, efforts were made to hide the truth, with the book's publisher showing no interest in exposing the deception, and even a federal judge urging silence to protect Haley's significance. The story of Roots begins with a historical lie, claiming Haley's ancestor, Kunta Kinte, was captured by white Americans in Africa, when in reality, the slavers at that time were not Europeans or Americans. This fiction, sold to the public as truth, has impressed serious distortions on historical understanding.