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Liars
A lie is “something that is not true... a false statement.” It is
something that is done “to give a false impression; mislead” (World Book
Dictionary). Lying is a subject that perhaps should be discussed more
often. There are some serious things we should know about this sin:
1. Yes, telling a ‘bald-faced lie’
is lying. (Hmmm... that’s simple enough.) But the Bible shows that
anything done to mislead is a lie. For instance...
2. Anything done to deceive -- Even the
use of body language. The person who “winks with his eyes... shuffles
his feet... points with his fingers,” all in an attempt to deceive,
is guilty of lying (Proverbs 6:12-19).
3. Flattery -- the sweet, syrupy sap of “great swelling
words” used in order to “gain advantage” is lying. Flattery
is used by some in order to ‘get in’ with the rich crowd (Proverbs
21:6). It may even be used to ‘get along’ with brethren. When the
uncomfortable job of rebuking a brother needs to be done, and we have no
problem doing such behind his back -- yet, can find nothing but words of
serenity when speaking to his face -- then we have flattered him. And
that’s lying. It bespeaks an attitude of hatred, not love. “You shall
not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your
neighbor, and not bear sin because of him” (Leviticus 19:17; see
also Psalm 12:2,3).
4. Promises not kept are lies. We have said we
would do something, and now we do not do it. When we charge with a
credit card, we are promising to pay at some time in the future. To not
pay is lying. When a man and a woman vow, “Till death do us part,” and
then divorce later because of some ‘irreconcilable differences,’ they
have broken their promise. They have lied. “When you make a vow to
God, do not delay to pay it... Better not to vow than to vow and not
pay... Do not... say... that it was an error. Why should God be angry at
your excuse...?” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-7). Truly, the world is saturated
with liars.
5. It is possible to lie to oneself
(Jeremiah 37:9). James talked of
the one who “deceives his own heart” (1:26). In fact, those who
lie to others are surely lying to themselves. “But evil men... will
grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy
3:13). The “truth” of the matter is, the progression (or should we say,
digression) of the liar is a sure thing. One can even get to the point
where he is “speaking lies” with a clear “conscience” (1
Timothy 4:2).
6. Lying is never right. Some
seem to feel that there are situations in which telling a lie would be
the right thing to do. They might even produce some very emotional
illustrations to (supposedly) support their case. But no, the doing of
wrong is never right... Correct? (Romans 3:8) For one to think he has
enough foresight to determine how a lie would better a situation is
nothing but rank presumption on his part. Abraham thought he should lie
about Sarah, but it almost led to adultery. David thought he should lie
about a trip he was on, but it led to the deaths of many priests
(Genesis 12:11-19; 1 Samuel 21:1-3). Lying almost always leads to
further mischief in this life; yet even if it does not, it still remains
sinful.
7. Children of God must be warned
not to lie. Don’t think for one minute that
just because you are a Christian that the devil doesn’t tempt you in
this area! Why then would the Bible charge us saints: “Do not lie to
one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds”
(Colossians 3:9)? Ananias and Sapphira lied, by misleading the church
into believing the two of them had given more than they had (Acts
5:1ff). Beloved, think seriously: a man and woman were destroyed by God
because they deceived their fellow-brethren! Let us, then, never be
guilty of telling ‘half-truths’ (to ourselves and then to others) about
our finances, why we ‘didn’t get our Bible-class lessons done,’ why we
‘weren’t at services the other day,’ etc. Half-truths are (in essence)
NO-truths, and are the product of a Satan-influenced life. The devil is
the “father of lies” (John 8:44) and has been telling
‘two-thirds-truths’ since the beginning! (Genesis 3:4,5)
8. No liars will be allowed in
heaven (Revelation 21:27).
9. All liars will go to hell
(Revelation 21:8).
This is a most serious matter.
--Mike Noble
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