I recently saw a sitcom where a major character didn’t want to go through with a prior commitment, so he convinced another character to “make something up” to “cover” for him. If we were really honest, how many of us have used deception to get out of something we didn’t want to do, get the upper hand in a business deal, or conceal some wicked act that we’ve committed? I’d guess that the practice is more common among Christians than we want to admit.

The Bible has a simple word for this action: LYING! No matter what we choose to call it, it’s lying. It’s also still lying no matter if we tell someone we’re not in the office when we really are, if we lie to a spouse about who we’re seeing or talking to, or if we do it to avert a life-threatening situation. Genesis 12:13 says, “Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee.” Abraham, the father of the faithful, used deception to get out of a potentially deadly situation with Pharaoh. He told Pharaoh that Sarah was his sister so that Pharaoh wouldn’t kill Abraham and take Sarah for his wife. When the plan came to fruition, God struck the Egyptians with plagues (Genesis 12:11-19).

Deception or lying has its roots with the father of lies. John 8:44 says, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” The master of deception is Satan. When we practice deception, we’re serving Satan, no matter how harmless or funny it may seem.

The Word of God sternly warns us about lying. Ephesians 4:25 says, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” Deception will eventually bring the wrath of God on the one practicing it. Revelation 21:8 says, “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.” Make sure you speak the truth to people and not be in allegiance with the devil.

Kyle Campbell