Recently a private investigator in his late 50s started a business that hired “professional liars.” Their job required them to tell any lie that a client requested. They would provide alibis for cheating spouses, excuses for a person skipping work, and more. When asked how he could live with himself because of this high level of deception, his response was, “When someone asks me how I can live with myself, I say, ‘May I ask you a question? Have you told a lie this week? Do you think you may tell a lie next week? Would you never tell a lie? Are your lies more sanctified than my lies?’ ” In other words, everybody does it, so I’m no worse than anybody else! There are two things that this poor man was ignoring — lying has consequences, and God takes lying very seriously.
But maybe you say, “My lies are harmless; they don’t hurt anybody!” Perhaps that’s what Scott Thompson, the former CEO of Yahoo, thought when he fabricated his resume, stating that he had a degree in computer science when he didn’t. This lie caused him to resign from his job only four months after taking the helm. David Edmondson, former CEO of Radio Shack, also resigned from his post after admitting that he had padded his resume. His claim was that he had a bachelor’s degree in theology and psychology, when he did not. Who got hurt by those lies? Behind each deception there’s usually a rationalization, such as, “Everybody does it” or “Who will ever know?” or “I deserve it.”
Even true statements can be designed to deceive. Take, for instance, the story of the sea captain who did not like one of his sailors. Frequently, he would enter into his log, “Jack was not drunk today.” This very effectively gave the impression that there were days when Jack was drunk, when, in fact, Jack never drank at all!
Lying is a sin that we don’t have to learn. Because of our fallen, sinful natures, it just comes naturally to us. Some of us are better at it than others — some people have honed this sin to such a point that it is nearly impossible to tell when they are lying. This is why it is so important to learn to always tell the truth from a very young age. Otherwise, we can become hardened and calloused to lying so that we think that it really doesn’t matter. If we are not careful, it can even become a way of life!
How God Views Dishonesty
This is exactly what happened to a whole group of people. It so permeated their culture that they became known for lying. Scripture records, “One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true” (Titus 1:12-1312One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. 13This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; (Titus 1:12‑13)). I believe the same could be said about the culture that we live in today. It is a fact that people have been admired for how well they could lie. Don’t be deceived into thinking that it really doesn’t matter. There is no such thing as a “white lie.” Little lies often become bigger lies; a habit of lying can become a lifetime of lies.
Do you know what some of the consequences of lying are? It gives you a bad conscience, that God-given voice inside of you that tells you whether something is right or wrong. Lies can make you sick physically, by giving you headaches, sore throats, anxiety and depression. It destroys trust and can ruin relationships. Lies can destroy your character and reputation, as well. Most importantly, did you know that just “one little, tiny lie” will bar you from heaven forever? This is why God says, “The wages of sin [lying is sin] is death [followed by hell]; but the gift of God is eternal life” (Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). Because God loves us, He gives faithful warning about the end of those who love to make a lie. “Without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie” (Revelation 22:1515For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Revelation 22:15)). “Without” means eternal separation from God’s presence, outside of heaven, cast into the lake of fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth, forever and ever. “The fearful, and unbelieving ... and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Revelation 21:88But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Revelation 21:8)). God sees lying as a serious sin and gives us faithful warning of its consequences if we do not come to Him in repentance. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:1313He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)).
What would it mean to live a life without lying? We have the perfect example in the One who never told a single lie. He lived a perfect, sinless life while here on earth. The Lord Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)). If we put our trust in Him as our Lord and Saviour, we can ask Him for help to tell the truth on a daily, hourly basis. When the Lord Jesus first met Nathanael, he said, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile [dishonesty]!” (John 1:4747Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! (John 1:47)). What a beautiful commendation! Because we think of the lie before we tell the lie, we need to ask the Lord to help us to guard our thoughts and the intentions of our hearts. Here is a good way to pray every morning: “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:1414Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)). He is willing and able to help us if we ask Him in dependence.
Find out how God shows His heart’s affection to people who have the ruin of sin in their lives in Rescued From the Rubble.