Lies and liars seem to be everywhere. Presidents and politicians lie about their backgrounds, policies and qualifications. Former government officials have lied about “classified” documents. Job applicants have lied about college degrees or prior positions held.
Modern liars lie—without shame! School principals and school boards lie. Students and teachers lie. Musicians lie about melodies or chord progressions. Pharmaceutical companies lie. Manufacturers lie. Regulators lie.
Truth is no longer objective: yes or no, black or white. Instead, it has become subjective, personal and ever-changing! Has no one told these liars that there is a special place in hell’s fire just for them?
“But as for … murderers, the sexually immoral sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8, ESV, author’s emphasis).
Liars—From the Beginning
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Eve, the mother of all future humans, encountered in the Garden of Eden a speaking serpent (the deceiver, devil, Satan, accuser) who lied to her, deceiving and tempting her to eat the forbidden fruit (Gen. 3:1-7). Adam willfully joined with her in following this lie, sealing us in our deceitful natures and eternal separation from God, our Creator (see 2 Thess. 1:6-10).
Lying seems to come naturally to us when we begin to speak. David describes this moral dilemma in Psalm 58:3, saying, “The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies” (author’s emphasis).
As Paul explained to Timothy, this often humanly excused practice is starkly shown and condemned with other gross sins in the law of Moses. “Understanding this, that the law is … for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine”(1 Tim. 1:9-10).
Liars—Will ‘Go to Hell’
Jesus explained that our sinful natures express lies easily because we are of our “father the devil,” who is a liar and father of lies (John 8:44). Our words, including our lies, express the inward spirit, which Jesus—who is the way, the truth and the life—will judge on that appointed day (Matt.12:33-37). Unless we become “born again” from “above,” we will face the same damnation and destiny as the “devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41).
Jesus declared that this future Day of Judgment is for all “those who are unfaithful to Me, and the corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those conversing with demons, and idol worshipers and all liars” (Rev. 21:8b, TLB, author’s emphasis).
Hell (Gehenna in the Greek) is described by Jesus 12 times as a place of punishment. That place is described in the book of Revelation as a “Lake that burns with fire and sulfur,” where all detestable, depraved and defiled beings will be “tormented day and night forever and ever” (Rev. 20:10, 21:8). All lying liars will end up there!
Our Role Is to Warn
This topic is never pleasant to teach or even discuss. But, in this age, it is the church’s role to warn people to repent and flee the righteous wrath that will come when Jesus returns as Judge:
“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:30-31, NIV).
Now is the time for repentance. Today is the day to turn from sin and to a holy God. Resist Satan, the father of lies, and open your heart to the Spirit of truth, who has come as our helper and guide (John 16:13-14). Ask Him to convict us of any sin of lying, which may “so easily [ensnare] us” (Heb. 12:1b, CSB), and convince us and help us always to “[speak] the truth in love’ (Eph. 4:15a, NIV).
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Gary Curtis served for 27 years as part of the pastoral staff of The Church on The Way, the First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys, California. Since retirement in 2016, he has continued to blog at worshipontheway.wordpress.com. Gary and his wife live in Southern California and have two married daughters and five grandchildren.
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