"Lying...an
abomination to Jehovah"
Proverbs 12:22
In years gone by, a man’s word was his
bond, but that, unfortunately, is not the case with many today. Lying has become
a way of life; a means of advancing at any cost. Verbal and written contracts
are disregarded as “no big thing!” When it comes to lying, far too many have
adapted the philosophy of the “little white lie” syndrome. For example, the
phone rings, and a family a member says, “if it is so-and-so, tell them I’m not
here.” Or a deal is made for a certain price; hands are shook, and upon
reflection the seller says, “I need more money.” There are those who will
deliberately sign their name to a lie, e.g. written contract, credit card, or a
“hot check.” Preschoolers will lie to escape punishment. Teenagers will lie
about their age in order to get a job. The assassination of character by
spreading vicious lies has done incalculable damage. Remember, once a lie has
gone on its journey, it can never be fully retrieved! All liars need to be
reminded that the Lord is looking down from heaven and nothing is hid from His
sight (Psalms 33:13-14; Hebrews 4:13)! [And He] “will
bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the
counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God”
(1 Corinthians 4:5). There are religious charlatans who lie to promote “their
ministry.” Some have tried to cover a lie by hiding behind religion. Lying is so
prevalent in our society that many businesses, as well as law enforcement
agencies, will use lie detectors. Despite what many have been told, lying is
very serious; so serious that liars will lose their immortal souls (Revelation
21:8)!
How would you define a lie? Webster says, “a lie is a falsehood uttered or acted
to deceive anything that deceives…evasion of truth by quibbling, dodging, etc.”
The ISBE defines a lie or lying as: “to speak falsely,” “to fabricate,” “to make
a false statement.” In its very essence, a lie is something said with intent to
deceive. It is not always a spoken word that is a lie, for a lie lived under
false pretenses, a hypocritical life, may be a lie equally with a false word
(Jeremiah 23:14). A vain thing, like an idol, may be a lie (Isaiah 59:4), as
also a false system (Romans 3:7). Error, as opposed to truth is a lie (1 John
2:21). The denial of the deity of Jesus Christ is regarded as “the” lie (1 John
2:2). (The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, p. 1887).
Then there are those who use deceit without any compunction of conscience.
Deceit is a dressed up lie! According to Webster, “having a tendency or
disposition to deceive: not honest, misleading…it is to ensnare, to be false.”
The Lord abhors a deceitful man (Psalms 5:6). Deceitful people “speaketh lies”
(Proverbs 14:25). Deceitful people, like all liars, will be cast into the lake
of fire, “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and
whoremongers, and murderers and idolators and whosever loveth and maketh a lie”
(Revelation 22:15). Children of God are to
“Provide things honest in the sight of all men.” (Romans 12:17).
Why would anyone, especially a Christian, want to tell a lie instead of the
truth? It could be because they want to cover their shame, or to inflate their
importance in the eyes of others. Many will lie about their past or to entrap
someone. Dwight Ramsey addressed “The Source of Lies,” when he wrote: “People
are motivated to lie for many reasons; to avoid embarrassment, achieve stature
and recognition before men, to gain financially, or to avoid some unpleasant
experience.” (The Truth About Lying, p. 7).
Since the Bible states the fact that “all liars will
have their part in the lake of fire” (Revelation 21:8), lying is not
a small insignificant matter! One would think that lying would not be found
among members of the body of Christ, but it is. Remember Ananias and his wife
Sapphira? Paul said, “Lie not one to another, seeing
that ye have put off the old man with his deeds” (Colossians 3:9).
Solomon said, God hates, “a lying tongue”
(Proverbs 6:17) and that “lying lips are abomination to
the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight” (Proverbs 12:22)!
This indeed is a serious matter! When one deliberately lies, he is serving the
devil! For the devil is the father of all lies (John 8:44)! Yes, all liars are
an abomination in the sight of Jehovah (Proverbs 12:22)!
By: Ivie Powell