2009 or 1984?

George Orwell, the author of 1984, said, “In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” Such a universe is hard to imagine until we think about the number of answers we give to please someone for a moment – instead of honoring them with the truth. Such a world would be somewhere where promises are effortlessly broken – promises like “until death do us part” or “I will always….” It would be a place where people would argue that stealing is not theft nor is cheating dishonest. A time of universal deceit is the realm of the sociopath; a universe where lying is not dishonesty, image is reality, gossip is not malicious, sex is casual, cheating is not deceitful, indifference is called boundary, self-centeredness is not selfish, the momentary is dubbed permanent and stealing is not theft. George Orwell said, “In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” Such a universe is hard to imagine until we open our eyes and realize that following Jesus today - speaking truth, loving mercy, walking in relationship and seeking justice - transforms us into revolutionaries in the eyes of most. Perhaps we are living in an age of universal deceit.