Jesus revealed himself as "the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6).

Throughout the scriptures, truth is revealed as an attribute of God. Truth is also portrayed as a means of freedom. "You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:32) Conversely, deception is found in the realm of Satan (Genesis 3:1-6). The age-old struggle of good against evil is embodied in truth versus deception.

In our everyday lives, do each of us speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Surely in this enlightened day we all know that everyone doesn't need to know everything. Remember the adage "the end justifies the means?" So if the end is good, cannot the means be fully justified? If we can achieve our goals by being slightly less than truthful; by not recognizing what is really true; covering over a situation; misleading ourselves or others to achieve a noble goal, isn't that justified? If the truth hurts another's feelings, is it justified?

Original sin came into the world by deception. The serpent (Satan) misled Eve (and with her, Adam) by asserting that the forbidden fruit would not kill them, and that God did not want them to eat it not because they would die, but because he wanted to keep knowledge from them. Adam and Eve thus ate the fruit. How did the deception actually work?

First, by telling them they would not die, the serpent insinuated that God had lied, and that God had an ulterior motive in keeping the fruit forbidden, a motive that did not have their best interests at heart. This deception sowed the seed of doubt in Adam and Eve's minds. Second, the serpent used diversion by making the promise that "your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Imagine, possessing the power and knowledge of God! Why, surely only good could come from that!? The temptation was apparently too strong to resist. Original sin thus came into the world.

When you are tempted to deceive or mislead, remember that deception, doubt and diversion were the tools used by Satan to mislead Adam and Eve. Furthermore, remember that Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life" that will set all of us free and lead us into everlasting life.