If you love the truth and value honesty, lies and injustice should prompt anger to rise up in your heart.
But if you value deception when it's expedient to your cause, whatever it might be, your heart will swell up with pride.
When truth is mocked and integrity of character is set aside, judgment is not far behind. But what, if anything, can you do about it?
Nothing new
Deception is nothing new. It's as old as...well, humanity. The first humans on earth started the ball rolling, but had some help disseminating deception.
In the Garden of Eden, he came as a clever serpent (Gen 3:1), he tempted Jesus in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-11), and Jesus called him the father of lies (John 8:44).
Deception, injustice, and evil will continue to be with us until the Lord returns and settles things His way. But how are we who trust in the Lord to deal with blatant deception and injustice?
[bctt tweet="How should we deal with blatant deception and injustice?" username="tkbeyond"]
It's a challenge to live our daily lives, raise a family, and live a life of integrity when deception and injustice seem to prevail. How do we respond when leaders prove to be untrustworthy?
After the justifiable anger rises up and before it boils over, we need to consider how to respond in both wise and practical ways.
The dilemma
Moral and ethical darkness are not new in the world. Corruption, injustice, and oppression by governments is common throughout history.
This doesn't mean we just tolerate it or dismiss it. The gravitational pull created by the black hole of corrupt and oppressive leaders suck life and hope out of people's lives. Both the innocent and the righteous are impacted.
When Israel was plunged into moral and spiritual darkness by their own unfaithfulness, God rebuked them—
Justice is driven back; godliness stands far off. Indeed, honesty stumbles in the city square and morality is not even able to enter.
Honesty has disappeared; the one who tries to avoid evil is robbed.
The Lord watches and is displeased, for there is no justice. (Isaiah 59:14-15)
The inevitable question comes, "Why doesn't God do something about it? Doesn't He care?!"
God does care! He has intervened over the centuries and personally intervened when He came as the Word of God in human form (John 1:1, 14).
[bctt tweet="God cared & intervened to help His people many times, even in person through His Son" username="tkbeyond"]
A resolution
What are we to do? Is there something we can do? There is.
He sees that there’s no one to help. He’s astounded that there’s no one to intercede. [italics mine]So with his own power he wins a victory. His righteousness supports him. (Isaiah 59:16)
The prophet declares that God is astonished no one is interceding on behalf of Israel in their moral and spiritual darkness.
The dictionary describes an intercessor as someone who steps in on behalf of another to plead for them. Who was God expecting to intercede? The spiritual leaders of Israel.
Prayer is not a last resort, but our first and best action.
[bctt tweet=" Prayer is not a last resort, but our first and best action" username="tkbeyond"]
Intercessory prayer may seem passive, even weak, but it's far from that. Jesus is often shown praying before significant events throughout the gospel narratives. Intercession was vital and key to the church's survival and growth in the book of Acts.
Standing in the gap
God's concern for an intercessor is echoed by the prophet Ezekiel—
So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. (Ezek 22:30 NKJV)
Where are the intercessors now? Nations all over the world are in turmoil and need intercessors—people who will "stand in the gap" and plead for their nation and people.
[bctt tweet="Where are the intercessors who will stand in the gap for their nation?" username="tkbeyond"]
Intercession requires commitment and consistent faithfulness when others give up in the face of adversity, and when it seems nothing is changing for the good.
Standing firm
When God saw no one who interceded for the nation, He stepped up to do so—
He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. (Isaiah 59:17)
The figurative phrases in this text are similar to what the apostle Paul said to believers facing the oppressive Roman Empire—
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Eph 6:13)
The larger context of this verse describes this armor of God in detail, with the list concluding with prayer, intercessory prayer (Eph 6:10-18).
This is what we can do, and how we are to respond when deception, evil, and darkness seem to prevail. Even if you're not a recognized leader, you can lead as an intercessor.
[bctt tweet="If you want to stand firm in hard times, prayer is vital, including intercessory prayer" username="tkbeyond"]
Doers, not just hearers
Jesus said those who hear His words and put them into practice will stand firm, like a house built on a rock (Matt 7:24-27).
No human leader can solve the world's woes. Clamoring for justice won't bring resolve. Putting hope in such things is like building a house on the sand. When storms come—and they will—these hopes will crumble.
When the world tumbles with turmoil and what once seemed secure is shaken, we need a solid foundation to stand firm in the midst of it all.
Knowing the truth isn't enough. Each believer needs to be a doer, not just a hearer of truth (John 13:17; James 1:22).
[bctt tweet="Knowing the truth isn't enough—we need to be doers, not just hearers of truth" username="tkbeyond"]
We need to engage in a wise and practical way. God's choice and direction is intercession, not mere protest, and certainly not empty rhetoric.
We need to live out the truth day-to-day, even when others around us abandon it.
We need to appeal to the One who alone is able and who will bring true justice and righteousness.
How will you respond when truth is mocked and integrity is shunned?
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