A truthful witness saves lives,
but he who utters lies is treacherous.

Proverbs 14:25

Here we have more consequences of the two worldviews. Those who believe in God’s Truth and those who reject God’s Truth bring about vastly different effects. We will find that Solomon’s Proverbs are very practical.

First and foremost, the important thing we give a trustworthy witness about is Jesus! This is the ultimate life Truth we can testify with eternal consequecnes.

We have seen and testify that the Father has sent
the Son to be the Savior of the World.

1 John4:14

For our human existence on earth, though, it must be noted that the power of Truth in criminal cases cannot be overstated. Lives are literally saved when a witness tells the truth to police officers investigating a crime. But when a witness or witnesses purposely lie or just can’t get their facts straight, the criminal will often remain free and cause more harm to the general public. Just think of all the false and conflicting information officers and detectives have to detangle to separate fact from fiction in a missing person’s case wasting precious days and weeks in their search. Lives do hang in the balance. Again, social media does not help stop the misinformation; it exasperates it! 

We probably do have one of the best justice systems in the world, here in the USA. I am not sure that is saying much these days. However, in theory, there are supposed to be numerous checks and balances when prosecuting criminals. If only, everyone involved with these court hearings would tell the truth and nothing but the truth. There is a ‘witness oath’ question given before a witness testifies. 

“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” In the ancient days, there was a qualifier: “So help you God?” Seemingly this important distinction is not always used in modern courtrooms. Even, if it is, I don’t think today’s humans take the oath seriously as an oath. If they did you wouldn’t hear about all the lies that are told ‘under oath’ on the floors of congress!

These are all good things to know should we ever be called as a witness in a trial or serving on a jury or even if we are be charged with some crime; innocent or guilty.

But there are other life-threatening opportunities to lie or to tell the truth that don’t actually bring people into a courtroom; they are, however, very serious for the person/s involved. I think of all the times just in my life that it really was a matter of great importance for me to tell the truth. Things like the whereabouts of a friend, or the circumstances involved in cheating on a test, or a police officer pulling me over and asking me, “Do you realize that you were speeding?” Hmm…These things and many others may seem trivial, but not telling the whole truth or speaking the whole truth affected all concerned and sometimes in a big way. 

On the flip side; what have lies told about me…about you affected us? And how quickly did they spread on the Internet? How hard is it to regain our reputations and how much time is lost in that endeavor? Think of a person who has had their identity stolen; one of the worst deceits ever! That’s why we spend hours and days and weeks repairing the damage of the lost wallets! We wouldn’t be as frantic if more people operated with honest intentions. 

The brother of Christ put it so succinctly…

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgement.

James 5:12