TRUTH

Proverbs 12:19
Truth stands the test of time; lies are soon exposed.

Matthew 10:26
For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed;
and hid, that shall not be known.
Do you find it difficult at times to be honest? How can you be sure that someone is telling the truth? European explorers in Africa discovered a strange but effective test for this dilemma. In one village, after a serious crime was committed, all villagers would be questioned by the village witch doctor. If there were no confessors, key suspects would then be gathered and made to watch a metal spear-tip heated until it became white-hot. The suspects would then stick out their tongues to be touched by the glowing spear-tip. The witch doctors believed that only the lying tongue would be burned. Well, here's what would usually happen: the guilty person would bolt and run into the bushes as the molten metal approached their open mouths. Case settled, right? Sure - but what if no one ran? Well for the villagers, the truth test still worked. As the hot spear moved down the line, it would touch innocent tongues without effect and only the guilty would scream in pain. Superstition? Not really. There's a scientific explanation. We now know that a normal tongue has enough moisture to prevent a quick burn. But, someone under intense strain (such as guilt and apprehension) would generally have a dry mouth and tongue. Since everyone trusted the final result of the test, the innocent suspects would be relaxed and their mouths and tongues were wet. The guilty mouth, however, would become dryer as the spear approached - basically having their own tongue physically betray them - the very same tongue used to provide a lie. I guess Proverbs 12:19 was right, "lies are soon exposed."