Lies Can Cost Lives

Imagine if you went to church this week and someone died because they told a lie. More than likely you would either stop going to that church or stop telling lies. Immediate consequences to others can impact how we behave.

In Acts 5, Ananias, and his wife, Sapphira, told lies. They owned a piece of property and then sold it. When they donated the money to the church, they lied about the selling price. They said they sold it for less than what they had sold it for and kept the extra for themselves.

The Holy Spirit lived inside of Peter and gave him an understanding of the situation:

• While it was yours, it was yours to do with as you pleased.
• After you sold it, it was your money to do with as you pleased.
• By lying about the sale price and saying you were giving all the money from the sale when you were not, you are lying to God.
• Lying may result in death, as it is in this case.

As the words were entering Ananias’s ears, the understanding of what he had done came to him. Then he felt his life leave his body and he collapsed and was dead.

If God treated everyone who lies like he did to Ananias (and later, his wife), then there would be innumerable deaths and tremendous fear.

Telling lies is something that God despises (Proverbs 12:22). God understands why we tell lies, but He makes the telling of truth His priority. He includes lying as one of His Top 10 Things Not to Do.

Lies destroy trust. Lies hurt. Truth builds trust. Truth heals.

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life…” Everything that Jesus has said is the truth. Jesus is so truthful, that, if He was going to tell a lie, He would tell you it was a lie (John 14:2). But He doesn’t lie, He is the Truth. (John 8:32).

Jesus came so that we could model His life through our own. Because He lives, we can also live like Him. Because He is the Truth, we can always tell the truth.

Stand up for the truth and work hard to always tell the truth. Then you will be like Jesus!

Remember, the Word of God speaks most clearly when you are reading the Bible.

Photo by Taras Chernus on Unsplash