A minister told his congregation, “Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you to read Mark chapter 17.” The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands. He wanted to know how many had read the chapter. Every hand went up. The minister smiled and said, “Mark has only 16 chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying.”
Lying has been around since the fall. In fact, we can trace it back to its father, Satan, who spoke the very first lie in Eden when he told Adam and Eve that they could be like God if they ate the forbidden fruit. And that was only the beginning. Can you remember who said these lies?
“I don’t know [where he is]. . . Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Cain in Genesis 4:9)
“Say you are my sister.” (Abraham to Sarah in Genesis 12:13)
“I did not laugh.” (Sarah in Genesis 18:15)
“She is my sister.” (Isaac, Abraham’s son, in Genesis 26:7)
“I am Esau your firstborn.” (Jacob in Genesis 27:19)
“I don’t know this man you’re talking about.” (Peter in Mark 14:71)
Lying was everywhere in Bible times and it is still around today. Husbands and wives lie to each other, children lie, presidents lie, even entire church bodies lie. A recent survey disclosed that 83% of all students admitted that they lie to their parents. This is certainly a popular sin, so popular that we have even assigned levels to the lies such as fibs, half-truths, white lies, and blatant lies.
Ananias and Sapphira lied, and they paid a harsh price for it. The early Christian church practiced the idea of sharing one’s goods with everyone. It was a communal society. This was not commanded or forced upon anyone. Ananias and Sapphira sold a piece of property. They then brought only a portion of the money as an offering to the apostles, leaving the appearance that they were donating the entire amount. This was pure deception. The Lord told Peter of the transaction, and he asked Ananias, “How is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? . . . You have not lied to men but to God” (Acts 5:3,4). Immediately Ananias fell down dead!
Three hours later, his wife, Sapphira, came in not knowing what had happened. Peter asked, “‘Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?’
‘Yes,’ she said, ‘that is the price.”
‘How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also’” (5:7-9). Sapphira fell down dead!
What do we make of that? No doubt one of our first thoughts is that a death sentence for “only a lie” seems like pretty harsh punishment. We can be thankful that the same punishment hasn’t happened to us. God’s commands are not mere suggestions to follow. There are many instances in which he has shown us that he is truly serious about them. However, our Lord has also shown us that he is gracious, slow to anger, and merciful. Let us thank the Lord for sending Jesus to die for every lie we have or will ever utter. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Lord, give me the strength to conduct my life and all my business dealings fairly and honestly. Amen.
Recent Comments