Scripture Reading: Exodus 20:15
God instructed as one of the Ten Commandments that we should not lie. Whilst this has been a subject of discourse at different times among Christians, several lies have been brought into our daily activities without any recourse to the eternal implications.
Biblically, Ananias and Sapphira suffered spiritual capital punishment for lying in the presence of the Apostles (Acts 5), but many parents have also been guilty of requesting their seeds to lie on their behalf.
Without any doubt, man has continually been taking the forgiving spirit of God, His mercy and Grace for granted.
How many times have we parents told our wards to inform our visitors that we were not available when we were really inside our rooms? If it were to be in the Apostolic Age, several people in this contemporary world would have faced same fate like that of Ananias and Sapphira.
The bible posited that he that speaks lies shall perish (Proverbs 19:9b), and lying lips are abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 12:22). The bible did not whittle down the potency of types of lies, thus, this implies that anything that is untrue is punishable by eternal death.
An area where lies have also been entrenched in our life is through deceit. We paint things nicely for our own benefit. This could be for material gains, for relationships, for business purposes, or for the purpose of massaging our ego.
We most times purchased goods locally but lie that they were imported. We travelled to countries closer to us and within our continent but informed people that we just came back from one of the developed countries.
For the purpose of convincing a partner, we put on borrowed clothes and shoes, pretending that we were the owners. The truth is that anything said to deceive others and which we know that are not true is lie and it is against the word of God.
It is also instructive to know that too much of pedicure, manicure, and beauty therapy that could substantially change the level of our real beauty to attract other gender could unconsciously become deceitful.
Thus, brethren in Lord, let us forsake lies and embrace truth at all times.
May the Lord take away lies from our lips, through Christ our Lord.
Memory Verse:
Exodus 20:15
“Thou shall not lie”.
Baba Aladura, Elder Israel Akinadewo – FCA, PhD
Prelate, Motailatu Church Cherubim and Seraphim Worldwide (MCCSW)/President, Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC)