I OFFICIATED THE FUNERAL OF CLEM HUSE...

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psalm 116:15 (ESV)

this past Tuesday and it brought to my mind so many wonderful thoughts. First of all, I was reminded of what it looks like in a person’s life to seek to love the Lord with all of their heart and life and to seek to love others as they love themselves.

If you were blessed to have spent any time around Clem at all you would have noted in short order that he had a true love of his Lord and Savior Jesus. It began with the smile that invariably would spread across his face and penetratingly reach out and touch your heart. It would continue as he seemed to be “fishing” for ways that he might be a blessing in your life. He always wanted to help others, and if he discovered a way to be of any help to you at all he would pursue it no matter the time required or the effort needed. And whenever you left his presence...his attitude and sweetness would linger over you for hours if not days with an ever motivating encouragement and belief that the Lord is good...all the time.

He was a strong man. He, like all of us in this broken world, had to make tough decisions and wade through the brokenness of this old world that he has now left behind for the loving presence of His Lord and Savior. Whenever he needed strength, he knew where to receive it. He would turn to the Lord, turn to the Scripture, consider what the Lord would have him to do, and when that was discovered that would be the action he would take. His faith has continued to strengthen throughout the years even as the outer man was becoming feebler.

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is becoming feebler, our inner self is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16 (ESV)

He was honest...he could be trusted...he was selfless...he was caring...he made the most out of the talents, treasure, and time the Lord extended to him...he was indeed a hard worker...he was joyful...he was patriotic...he was humble...he was friendly...he was faithful...he was a loving husband...and a loving father...and a loving grandfather...and a lover of Jesus...willing to witness of the saving power of the Lord to any who would listen. His prayers were thoughtful and the purpose of his life was defined by the Lord he loved.

He’s still impacting me this morning. No doubt...he was a sinner...just like I am...none of us are perfect down here...sometimes we do the wrong things or say the wrong things. But he is an example of how the life of faith is to be lived, growing in the Spirit of the Lord and becoming more like Christ every day...and enjoying with gratefulness and thanksgiving all the Lord had done for him while pursuing with vigor all the tasks the Lord ever set before him.

It made him a happy man...Christians should be happier than we often are or often appear...Clem was happy in the Lord and it showed...it was a powerful witness to all who encountered him...lost and saved alike...and his witness continues on today and will continue in the days ahead as we remember with fondness the treasured moments that he shared with us.

I’ve thought about what the life I’m living is unfolding to be. Are the fruit of the Spirit as evident in my own life? Have I the humility that one should have for being saved when one does not deserve it? Through the years have I developed sweetness in my spirit...and cultivated a spirit of giving to others whenever it is needed? Have I enjoyed the life that the Lord has given me or have I lived a worldly life, full of busyness and man-made ambition...instead of living my life in a Christ honoring manner in a broken and hurting world? Good questions for all of us, aren’t they?

The good news is, we still have time to praise the Lord for all that we have, and love Him each day with all of our heart, and intentionally love others as we love ourselves. You know when you live that way, like Clem did, it becomes more than just a catchy slogan...it become a witness to the life changing power of God in the heart, in the life of a broken and lost individual...it demonstrates how a life can change its destiny along with its direction and begin to reach the potential that God has planned for each one of us.

What a team...for his loving and faithful wife Esther is cut from the same cloth...a wonderful example of what a shared partnership of faith can do in a shared life of marriage.

We will continue to pray for his family as they adjust to not having him present here, now, but with the full expectation that they will see him again.

We will continue to pray that the Lord will work in each one of us in the same manner as he worked in Clem’s life, that we might also bring glory to God...and we will also look forward to seeing him again in the presence of the Lord. Yes, we will recognize him and know him...if you think he was smiling down here...well...you haven’t seen anything yet.

Yep, I’m smiling right now! Bet you are too.

In the neighborhood where I grew up if somebody was excitedly sharing some news about something they had witnessed or an awesome event that they had been a part of or giving witness to some unknown knowledge that only they had knowledge of, like, Monica Mote loves Ralph Sawyer, we would employ a phrase that became the verbal challenge indicating that we aren’t sure you’re telling us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God. Upon hearing such testimony, in whatever form, we would shout out, “No Lie?! And then the person would go on to explain why they were telling the truth or find themselves caught in their stretching of the truth...God would call it lying.

I’ve found myself screaming at the television and/or the radio on several occasions using this phrase...I hadn’t really used it in a while, but I’ve found it necessary on many occasions recently. No Lie!?

It was happening again...a prominent official of a past governmental administration spreading “fake” news. If you don’t know what “fake” news is let me help you out...it’s called lying. I mean that’s what God calls it...I mean lying (in Hebrew...seqer) is being untruthful, deceitful, and false, by implication a sham. Even Webster’s defines lying as that which is marked by or containing untrue statements. Spreading “fake” news or lying seems to have become an acceptable method of manipulation to portray what you want or who you are to get what you want...no matter the consequences. Yet, in the eyes of God...well, He hates it.

Some people have a little trouble believing that God can hate anything. But even a fleeting examination of the Scripture reveals the truth.

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; 7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.” Psalm 45:6-7 (ESV)

“Yet this you have: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” Revelation 2:6 (ESV)

“And you shall not set up a pillar,which the LORD your God hates.” Deuteronomy 16:22 (ESV)

And then of course,

There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.Proverbs 6:16-19 (ESV), the lying tongue.

Since we live in a broken world, where sin has entered, we will find contrasts. We will love the right and we will hate the wrong. On the other hand, if you love sin, you will hate righteousness.

The Word of God tells us that we should love the good and hate the evil.

“...a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:8 (ESV)

God hates a lying tongue...No lie!

You probably weren’t aware of this, but there is a big “tongues” movement in America...called lying. It’s not that it hasn’t always existed, it has; it’s one of the marks of the world system. Satan, after all, is the father of lies (John 8:44) and since we are all born in sin, all men are born liars. No lie!

Well, since God hates lying, we should as well. I mean any believer can fall into lying just like he can with any other sin, but if his life is characterized by a continual habit of lying from a heart of deceit, then he would have no biblical basis for believing he is a Christian.

As believers, the old is passing away and all things are to become new in our lives.(2 Corinthians 5:17) We should stop lying, if we are, and use discernment to determine that which is true and that which is false, for only the truth can set people free.

You say, “I really don’t have a problem with lying!” Okay, but remember that lying is more than just telling direct falsehoods; it includes exaggeration, where you begin with the truth and then add a little untruth with it, making it all a lie. Then there’s cheating on taxes (sorry, it is about that time of year isn’t it?) or cheating in school, betraying a confidence, making promises you don’t intend to keep, using flattery, or just making excuses.

I mean, hang in there with me, you were all with me when I called “fake” news out for being what it really is...lying. And if we’re going to do it with “fake” news we must not deceive ourselves from realizing we just might have a little problem ourselves.

Whatever form it might take, the Lord hates it and so should we. We are to lay aside falsehood so we can do what the Lord wants us to do with our lives.

“Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.” Ephesians 4:25 (ESV)

We should pray like David,

Deliver me, O LORD, from lying lips, from a deceitful tongue. Psalm 120:2 (ESV)

That’s the good news, Christ in us, continues to change us, and He can and will deliver us from lying if we want Him to and ask Him to and then choose to obey Him because we want to.

We can help America return to God by telling the truth....NO LIE!