Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, Ephesians 6:14 (NIV)
Commanders on the battlefield must receive accurate situation reports from their subordinates. Battle plans and allocation of limited resources necessitate acting on the truth.
Still, there are many places to cut corners in an effort to create positive impressions of performance. For example, exaggerating the number of enemy KIAs distorts the actual situation. A false report regarding contact with the enemy may lead to a valorous award that is undeserved.
Distorting the truth is especially tempting when there is bad news. But there is an old saying, “Bad news never gets better with age.”
Warriors in the Lord’s Army are commanded to speak the truth and live in the truth.
Standing in the truth is often not easy. Everyone falls short at times. We may not want to disappoint our boss or we don’t want another person to know our true motives for some action. None of this is constructive.
With God’s help, we can do better. Keep the belt of truth firmly buckled around your waist. And don’t surrender it to anyone!
