Rev. Don Campbell
Polishing the Truth
“Polishing the truth” does not refer to removing the buildup of residue, making the truth shine in all its brilliance. When we polish the truth, we “cherry-pick” the words so that we do not tell a bald-faced lie but seek to deceive our listeners through the careful choice of words.
Satan told a bald-faced lie when he told Eve she would not die, but he polished the truth when he said, “God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil’ (Gen 3:5). God confirmed that the words Satan had spoken were true: “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil” (Gen 3:22). Satan polished the truth, suggesting God had a hidden motive, when it was he that had a hidden motive. His polishing of the truth made him a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44).
Sometimes, what we don’t say when trying to mislead by what we say makes us truth-polishers of whom the father of lies would be proud.
