Real Man’s Toolbox: Leave lies behind and seek truth

By Leo Hellyer 

Men of God, wake up and realize, “You are being lied to!” As we live our lives at work, at church, in community, at home, and at play, we are being lied to. We are being lied to about God, ourselves, sin and sexuality, marriage and family, work and wealth, circumstances and the world. 

Just recently I came across a fantastic book by Robert Wolgemuth titled, “Lies Men Believe – And the Truth That Sets Them Free.” Yes, this is another book you need to read. This is a very good read. Not only is this a good read, but it also hits us where we live. We live in a world of lies. 

If we aren’t careful, if we aren’t wide awake, if we aren’t battle ready, if we aren’t using the full armor of God, we will be deceived by the lies around us. By the way, men, this is not a fact just for men. Women also are challenged by the lies that are around them. Without God’s intervention into our lives we will succumb to the lies around us. We will be deceived by these lies. We must turn to the Word of God, the Bible, to find the truth of life. We must know the truth to know what the lies are. 

In his foreward to Robert’s book, Patrick Morley states, “The Bible is the written and sealed agreement between a sovereign God and me. And you. It’s eminently reliable and trustworthy. ‘Lies Men Believe’ is a book that lifts high the veracity of God’s Word.” 

When we follow the lies around us, in most cases we are not doing so out of ignorance. Even when we come alongside the lies of life, or using another term, when we sin, we do so aware of what we are doing. Robert Wolgemuth puts it this way, “When you and I fall prey to lies, the cause is more likely to be pride and less likely to be gullibility. In the moment, we think we know better than God. We know in our heart and our conscience what is right, but we choose what is wrong.” 

Religion does not show us how to be victorious over the lies in our lives. Religion doesn’t speak to us about the lies we face. The only way we can find the truth and learn how to follow it, instead of following the lies, is through an active, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In his book, Robert lists many Scripture references to assist us in learning how to defeat lies. Two of those come from Jesus as recorded by John in John 8. In John 8:31-32 Jesus says, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Later in chapter 8 of John, in verse 36, Jesus goes on to say, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” 

Jesus is always with us. He is present as we go through everything that we face in life. He is present, He has the answers, He has the power, He is the Truth that will bring joy, peace, excitement, contentment, and everlasting and abundant life to us. 

This book, “Lies Men Believe,” can be life-changing to you. It has lit a fire in me, and it can for you as well. As men, we may be seeking truth, but we will not find it until we get to the point where we not only have knowledge of Christ, but we have a close, loving, heart relationship with Him. In addition to being our Savior, Christ through the Holy Spirit can become the best Accountability Sponsor, or Mentor, that we could ever have. If we will let Him, He can be the One who will call us on our stuff, and the One who we will actually listen to, and we will follow His direction. 

The last Scripture Robert Wolgemuth includes in his book is one that has become the life verse for my wife and me. A counselor of ours, who eventually became a friend of mine, Kevin Rhinehart, from Christian Counseling Center (now Center for Hope and Healing), brought this verse to our attention, and since then it keeps coming back into our lives in very unique ways, and at perfect times. The Scripture is Philippians 1:6, where Paul writes, “I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” 

What this is talking about is the fact that God Almighty, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit who have begun a good work in us will never cease in that effort until Jesus Christ returns, or we meet Him for eternity. God will never leave us. Regardless what the architect of lies, Satan, says, we are never alone. Even in our darkest moments, we are loved by God Almighty, the God of Creation. We may deny Him, we may run from Him, we may try to hide from Him, but He is ever-present in our lives. When you feel lonely, scared, confused, neglected, overwhelmed, used, or abused, cry out to the only One who is always there, the only One who always has your best in mind, the only One who loves you absolutely unconditionally, the Holy Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 

Leo Hellyer is a non-staff pastor with a local church and has been married to his wife Norma for more than 45 years. The couple volunteered with the Boise FamilyLife Ministry Team for 20 years. They are both employed by Boise Rescue Mission Ministries, Norma at City Light Home for Women & Children and Leo at River of Life Rescue Mission. Leo is also the President and Chief Firearms Instructor with Helping Hands Firearms Training LLC. If you have questions about Real Man’s Toolbox, or need other assistance, Leo may be reached at [email protected] or 208-340-5544.