"Liar, Liar"

EPISODE 127

Get Real, Get Honest

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For years, researchers have been fascinated with the science of lying. How often are people dishonest in a day? Can we use body language to identify deception? Is technology effective in revealing an untruth?

In Acts 5, we meet a pair of liars who appear to be faithful to the Lord, but whose misrepresentation of the facts leads to some severe consequences.

Won't it Look Good?

"But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet" (Acts 5:1-2).

Doesn't it look good on the surface? They were making a sizeable donation to support the needy, but keeping some of the proceeds for themselves. What's wrong with that? As we learn later, they misrepresented the sale price, making it seem as if they gave 100% (Acts 5:8).

What might motivate us to lie today? Often it's the same reason as they had — looking good to others. We want to seem exceptional, sacrificial, the "hero" of the story. But when we misrepresent our accomplishments to others, we're walking down the deadly path of deception.

Who Would Know?

"But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? ... Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God" (Acts 5:3-4).

They lied to the wrong man — one filled with the Holy Spirit! Satan filled their hearts, the father of all liars (John 8:44). But they didn't think anyone would be the wiser, forgetting that God always knows!

We don't walk around connected to polygraph machines today. We're unlikely to ever run into someone with Peter's ability to spot a con-artist. But that doesn't mean our lies won't be revealed someday (Luke 12:2-3). Just because you fool someone into believing you, don't think you can pull the wool over the Lord's eyes.

What Could Happen?

"When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it" (Acts 5:5).

Both he and his wife died immediately. It's a scene you might expect to find in the Old Testament. God is deadly serious about honesty! But on a positive note, it caused the rest of the church to fear.

Accounts like this help us to have a newfound respect for God too. What could happen? As John's revelation reveals, our lies may leave us destined for the lake of fire (Rev. 21:8)!

So let's be honest, realizing that God sees everything, and fear the results of misrepresenting the truth.