While there are a number of sins that may have more devastating consequences, lying is still a sin that must be conquered. Although there may be some habits that make a person feel worse than lying might, it is still a habit that must be broken. Nevertheless, it is for these two reasons that lying continues to grip so many Christians today.
First of all, when someone lies, he is seeking to guard himself from the consequences of telling the truth. Maybe he did something bad and he doesn’t want another person to know about it because of what he perceives the consequences might be.
On the other hand, a person could lie simply because he does not want someone to know something about himself, even if it is not a moral matter. For instance, if someone has a small house, he may feel inferior to someone who has a big house. As a result, he may lie about the square footage of his home in a conversation.
Both of these situations are different variations of the same problem. Often what takes place is that when people tell these sorts of lies, they cover up the “consequences” that they perceive will take place if they tell the truth. For this reason, this particular sin does not have the same devastating consequences such as drug or alcohol abuse or outward manifestations of anger. Therefore, this will oftentimes cause a person to become complacent in his fight against lies because nobody knows about it but God alone.
The second reason that was proposed as to why lying can be so common in the church is that oftentimes when people lie, they do not feel bad about it. Feelings often prompt someone to do something differently. If someone feels bad for their sin, it makes them want to stop.
Take the sin of anger. When someone persists in anger, people see it, and it therefore has a tendency to make the one who gets angry feel worse than if he told a lie that no one knew about. Since he experiences unappealing emotions from his anger, it makes him naturally want to stop. Nobody wants to feel bad.
However, lying will frequently not arouse such challenges in the heart of man unless he becomes cleansed from his past life and sees his sin for what it is. So where does the Christian turn when he needs to develop the convictions needed to turn from lying and turn to the truth?
A quick look into the old nature and into the new nature will surely help the Christian to see what must be done.
The old nature loves lying
When it comes to the old nature, that is, the nature before Christ, lying is something that is loved. Scripture says, “Thou lovest evil more than good; And lying rather than to speak righteousness” (Ps. 52:3). A mark of the wicked is that there is a hatred for honesty and righteousness. Ultimately what this means is that the primary concern of many is not the glory of God but rather self-preservation.
The new nature hates lying
On the other hand, the Bible tells us that those who know Christ will have a hatred for lying. Scripture says, “I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love” (Ps. 119:163). A deep hatred for lying will reside in the heart of a born-again believer. Instead of a love for lying, there will be a love for the law of God.
The old nature is enslaved to lying
When someone is apart from Christ, it is not a simple thing to stop sinning. In one sense, he has no power to stop. The power and deliverance to stop sinning come from Christ. Sure, there are ways that an unbeliever may stop lying, and everyone should be held accountable. But for those who have never been redeemed from slavery, there can only be a rearranging of sin rather than a deliverance (hence the word redeemed being applied to a Christian).
The Scripture bears credence to this statement when verses such as, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: They go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies” (Ps. 58:3), are found. Lying is something that happens from the beginning. Children love to lie and need to be taught to speak the truth.
The new nature is freed from lying
While the old nature brings forth children of lies, the new nature brings forth children of the truth. Scripture says, “For he said, Surely they are my people, Children that will not lie…” (Is. 63:8). A true, defining mark of a child of God is that he will not lie. A life that is pleasing in the eyes of God is a life that is dedicated to the truth.
The old nature seeks after lies
Every heart is seeking after something. The question is not whether or not a person is seeking but rather what he is seeking. Scripture says, “…How long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing?” (Ps. 4:2). This seeking after leasing is seeking after falsehood or seeking after lies. The nature loves falsehood and continues to seek for it with all its heart.
What is being said here is not just that the old nature loves to tell lies, but rather it also seeks for things that are false. There is a way in which that which is not true attracts the heart of the wicked. God’s Word is truth, but this does not attract the old nature. Rather, that which is opposed to the truth (lies) will be what pulls the wicked in.
The new nature seeks deliverance from lies
While the old nature seeks after lies, the new nature seeks deliverance from those same lies. Scripture says, “Remove far from me vanity and lies…” (Prov. 30:8). Here is a good glimpse into the heart of a born-again believer. Someone who genuinely loves Christ may experience times of temptation and even sin, but he will strive and desire with his heart to have lies removed from him.
The old nature brings about lies
The old nature consists of a pouring forth of lies. This speaks of a multiplying of lies and a bringing about of lies. It is as though the world is a cup, and the old nature continues to fill the cup as the liquid steadily increases. As the old nature thrives in the world, so do and will lies. Scripture says, “Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, And hath conceived mischief, And brought forth falsehood” (Ps. 7:14). This language speaks of one who adds to the lying in the world rather than decreasing it.
The new nature rejects lies
However, for those that have been born again, there will be a different testimony that is told. Yes, “Once I was dead in sin and in partnership with the father of lies,” they may say, “but now I’ve been washed in the blood of the Lamb.” Scripture says, “Blessed is the man that maketh the Lord his trust, And respecteth not the proud, nor as such turn aside to lies” (Ps. 40:4). For the born again, there will be a resolve and steadfastness to his direction in life. There will be no turning aside to a lie but rather a firm commitment to walk the straight and narrow path.
Application
The topic of lying does not seem to be a popular one. You might be hard pressed to find a Christian book on the topic at your local bookstore – even if it is a Christian bookstore. For whatever reason, it does not spark the curiosity of many, nor does it get the attention that it deserves. As a result, the souls of many are being defiled with the lies of the enemy. Since Satan is the father of lies, it is not far-fetched to say that lying is demonic. It also will have no place in the kingdom of God. John warns us that “all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8). We must repent of that which has become natural to us. We must turn from our lies.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the finished work of Christ. I thank You that I can be forgiven of my sin through His blood. I pray that You would help me to be truthful in all that I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.