More deadly than COVID is the plague of lies and deception.  This fatal disease infects everyone in the world in one way or another.  It is not limited to politicians, rulers, and famous people.  Marriages and relationships can’t escape this deadly grip.  It is in churches, synagogues, and places of worship. It has become the fabric of advertising, documentaries, and entertainment.

People receive phone calls from scammers telling them lies to steal their identity and hard-earned money every day.  Husbands and wives tell lies to cover adulterous relationships.  The Church and its leaders have not escaped its tentacles.  Pastors, preachers, teachers, and followers deceive when the truth is not convenient or cuts across their desires or traditions.  Cult leaders weave truth and lies to create false religions.  Why is this?

The Anti-Christ-The Ultimate Delusion

Paul reveals why people (including church members) are easily deceived.  He addresses the Thessalonian church concerning the last days and the Anti-Christ (son of perdition, lawless one).  The Anti-Christ uses lies and deception to fool the people into following Him because they don’t love the truth.  The pleasure of sin and convenience sets them up in a mindless state for strong delusion.

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason, God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1 Thessalonians 2: 9-12

Sadly, God’s truth is not respected, mainly because it is inconvenient, as one politician put it, concerning the environment.

Both Jesus and His disciples cautioned the church against lies and deception concerning the return of Christ.   Jesus had just told the disciples that the temple would be destroyed.  They connected the destruction of the massive temple with the return of Jesus.  But Jesus was more concerned about deception than brick and mortar.   The first words out of Jesus’ mouth were cautions about deception regarding His return. He used the word “deceive” four times. The entire subject of Matthew’s chapter 24 is to provide clarity about the method, signs of His return, and necessary preparation for His return.

“Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many…. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.  For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  See, I have told you beforehand.” 

Matthew 24:4,11, 25

Lying and Deception’s Connection to All Sin

Aren’t you tired of those who lie so convincingly only to have the truth come out later?  What disappointment!  God’s word makes it clear that lying is a serious business and it has serious eternal consequences. 

What makes lying and deception so invasive is its connection to many other sins.  Lying is often the foundation for sins such as theft, adultery, murder, selfishness, pride, and even the worship of God.

It is no wonder then that God forbids it.  It is the ninth commandment.  But don’t let its position minimize its importance.  It is a sin just as deadly as any other sin you can think of. James tells us:

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

James 2:10

The ultimate fate of those who practice lying and deception is tragic.  They will be destroyed by fire.  They will die what the Bible calls the second death (eternal death).

But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

Revelation 21:8

In the last chapter of the Bible (Revelation 22), there is a description of those raised in the second resurrection.  After a thousand years, Satan deceives them to attack the Holy City New Jerusalem from heaven to earth.  The city is surrounded, but God sends fire down from heaven, consuming them forever.  This is the second death.  Among these lost souls are those who practice lying.

But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Revelation 22:15

The Origin of Lying and Deception

The first recorded lie in the Bible came from the fallen angel Lucifer who was thrown out of heaven. His lie contradicted the plain word of God to the first couple.  If only Adam and Eve had believed God and walked away, things would have been different.  But they didn’t.  They listened and did not hang up on the deceptive call from the one who had only destruction of God’s creation on his mind.  God had said they would die; Satan said they wouldn’t.  It is the pattern of lies to bring comfort and assurance to its victim initially.  Then they are caught in the snare.

And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ”

Genesis 3:2

Here is where Eve should have hung up on the call from Satan.  She should have walked away and continued tending the garden with Adam.  But she didn’t.  She listened.  Here is a lesson for us all:  Listening to lies and considering them is never productive.  It is best to hold up your hand and refuse to even hear or consider it!

Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Genesis 3: 4-5

For disobedience, God says death.  Satan says, “No!”.  The subject of life and death has traveled the course in this world.  Their is confusion about the meaning of death. The pagan belief in reincarnation says you never die.  Even the Christian church has adopted the idea that a person (soul) never dies.  They live in eternal flames or heaven.  They claim the soul is immortal, but scripture never once says it is. This first lie explains away the clear passages on death. 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Romans 6:23

Death falls upon all men because all have sinned, but the second death (Perishing) by the lake of fire, as described by John in Revelation 21:8, is death that is eternal.  It is the final paycheck for those who refuse the invitation of God and desire to live in sin.  These have not trusted in Jesus to give eternal life provided at the resurrection when He comes (See 1 Thessalonians 4: 16-18 and 1 Corinthians 15: 51-55). Therefore, only the redeemed will live eternally.  The lost will perish.

He who has the Son has ^[life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

1 John 5:12

The most famous verse in the Bible puts before the reader the two options of life or death (Perish). 

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Belief (trust) in Jesus leads to everlasting life.  The opposite (unbelief or not trusting) leads to perishing.

Father of Lies

The self-righteous Pharisees approached Jesus one day and started an accusatory conversation with self-deceived lies about Jesus.  Jesus told them how to be free in the truth:

“If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31, 32

Here is the only way to be free from deception, lies, and ultimately death in the lake of fire.  We are to abide (live) by “every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” regardless of tradition, convenience, or pleasure.

The soft-spoken Jesus told the religious leaders in plain words their condition.  He wanted them to be free.  They claimed their pedigree of having Abraham as their father. But Jesus contradicted them and claimed they had another father because they wanted to kill Him. 

Their temper was roused, and they alluded to Jesus’ apparent illegitimate birth through the fornication of Mary.

They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.”

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the deeds of your father.”

Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”

John 8: 40,41

Jesus ignores their nasty assertion. He then asks a great question and provides the answer.  It is a vital truth that rings down to our time.  It has to do with understanding and believing Jesus. Then he reveals that Satan is the father of all lies, their real father.

Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. (We don’t understand Jesus because we don’t listen)  You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

John 8: 43-47

What Shall We Do?

I am tired of all the lies in our society and in myself.  I cannot watch TV without deception and lies from advertisers and Hollywood writers.   A friend of mine records all his shows and sports events to skip the commercials.  I have tried the same.  If the streaming service doesn’t allow it, I simply mute the commercials.   

Satan is the father of lies and deception.  He desires to deceive even the very elect (if possible) into eternal death.  Lies and deceit are dangerous.  It can start as a white lie and then get out of control into a forest fire.

The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, sets on fire the course of nature, and set on fire by hell.

James 3:6

If you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit, repent from the deadly sin of lying and deception and turn to the truth of God’s word.  He will never lie to you, and He will change you.  Will you join me in asking God to change us…to make us a new creature where lies do not occupy the temple of God?  Would you let this be your prayer today?

Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.

Psalm 120:2