When you think about a "liar," who or what comes to your mind? Is it your sorry brother-in-law; or perhaps that old mean aunt whom you dread visiting; or your ex-spouse? Perhaps it's your present boss/administrator; and the list could go on. But have you been completely honest with your answers? Is it possible to be a liar and not even give it a second thought?
Recall the apostle Paul's admonition in 2 Corinthians 13:5, where he wrote "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you, unless indeed you are disqualified."
I'm certain that we who are Christians are well aware of the lie's origin. In fact, perhaps the most infamous lie ever told is the very first one, recorded in Genesis 3:4: "But the serpent said unto the woman, You will not surely die." God said they would. Eve had a choice to make; she made the wrong one and believed the lie!
In John 8:44, Jesus spoke of the "father of lies" when He said: "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
Ironically, not only was a lie the first sin known to mankind, but a lie, told in Acts 5:1-11, was the first recorded sin in the church. It cost two people their lives. And lies continue, don't they?
Perhaps the reason many of us do not see ourselves as liars, is that our concept of lying is something spoken as an untruth, with the intent to deceive. But my brethren, let us "dig a little deeper" to see if perhaps we can gain a fuller understanding of what constitutes a liar.
No context is more explicit than Matthew 23, where Jesus accused the Scribes and Pharisees of being hypocritical. In this particular context, Jesus pronounced seven woes upon them for (get this now) professing to teach one thing, while living another. God used very strong language to show the hypocrisy of their conduct and supposed love for Him. That is what a hypocrite does. "He wears a mask and feigns himself to be what he is not" (Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary).
Have you ever been guilty of hypocrisy? Do you profess Christianity, and live otherwise? Does your speech betray you? (Matthew 26:73; Colossians 3:8) Does your manner of dress profess modesty, shamefacedness, and sobriety (Proverbs 7:10; 1 Timothy 2:9,10)? Do you choose friends who adversely influence you (1 Corinthians 15:33; Romans 12:10)?
Do you ever awaken with a Sunday-morning headache that keeps you away from the Lord's Day church services, only to feel better on Monday morning and able to go to work (Hebrews 10:24-25)? When you partake of the Lord's Supper, do you ever "eat and drink unworthily, thus, eating and drinking damnation to your soul for not discerning the Lord's body." (1 Corinthians 11:29)
Why is it that so many of us cannot endure? What is so difficult about living a godly life? John said that God's commands "are not grievous." (1 John 5:3) Paul wrote: "present your body a living sacrifice, which is your reasonable service." (Romans 12:1)
Brethren, could it be that we just aren't committed to the cause? Could it be that there is more "world" than "Christ" in us (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; Philippians 2:20; 1 John 4:4)?
I'm just wondering if we take seriously enough the advice the apostle Paul gave in 2 Corinthians 13:5: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith." Oh sure, some of us "look into the perfect law of liberty," (James 1:25) but we fail to "continue therein."
From time to time, I think of our first-century brothers and sisters in Christ, and I see them enduring hardships. In fact, I see them undergoing severe suffering in defense of the faith (see Hebrews 11:32-40). And I find myself thinking, "If they could look at the Christians in the 21st century, and see what so easily besets us, they would probably laugh and say, You all don't have the slightest idea what it means to live godly and suffer persecution." I honestly doubt that they would laugh about it-they would probably cry.
As we close this article, would you think with me about just one more thing? Do you agree that one can be a liar, not just by telling lies, but also by being hypocritical? Are you familiar with what awaits those found guilty of lying? John gave the end result of being a liar. "But 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}
Remember, hell was "prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25:41) May we learn, and soon, that we need to speak the truth, never lying or practicing dishonesty (Ephesians 4:15). We need to "let our lights shine,"(Matthew 5:16) so that God can be glorified, and we may, by living the truth-not a lie, be able to lead others to the cross of Christ.
Brother Lee has written some things we need to seriously consider as we endeavor to live our lives as God's people. Could it be that we are deceiving ourselves by believing that no one watches as we go about our everyday duties?
God's children are the only "Bible" with which some people in the world will ever come into contact. What if they see confusion and conflict? How can we claim to be God's children and treat our friends, neighbors, and even our own families, with contempt by living double lives? From my study of God's word, I believe He wants us to teach more by being living examples of the truths written in the good book.
Remember our Lord's words: "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." {Matthew 22:37-40} How can we truly love our neighbors and see them headed for eternal destruction without raising the proverbial warning about the dangers ahead? What bigger lie could we be guilty of telling? Think seriously about how much you love those you know who are dying in sin. Be assured, God knows the truth about the matter. (KMG)