… which God, who does not lie …
Summary: God is good. He is able to choose not to lie. Being created in God’s image we also have a choice.
What if God lied? What would that mean? Paul is a deep thinker, and sometimes his brain leaks the juice of those deep thoughts. Could God lie?
(Hint: The answer is “No.”)
There is a conundrum that always exists in stories of the Good versus Bad genre. The Good Guy and the Bad Guy are playing by a different set of rules. The Good Guy is constrained by his principles. The Bad Guy has no principles and is free to stab people in the back, hit below the belt, kick people in the shins, call names, and lie.
If Good were to sink to the level of Bad and abide by their rules, Good would no longer be good. But he is Good, and he remains Good.
“Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.” (Hebrews 6:17-18)
God’s nature is unchanging, and it is impossible for God to lie. That means that it is always going to seem like he is at a disadvantage in the battle against Evil. Yet there is something Good has that Evil can never compete with.
God created the world and all that is in it to be good. Evil is an aberration.
God created people to love him and love each other. (Matthew 22: 37-40) Evil is the opposite. Evil loves self above God and above others.
In Genesis 1: 27 we learn:
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
God chose to make the earth and all that is in it. He wasn’t forced to. God chose to make man in His image, and when he did, he allowed mankind to choose as well. Sadly, mankind chose the love of self over the love of God. Here we arrive at Evil’s fatal flaw: God can choose to love others. Evil cannot. Evil is a slave to self-interest.
If God does not lie, why does he tolerate lies? Why does he tolerate Evil? In the parable of the Wheat and the Tares (KJV), Jesus explains. He says:
“‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First, collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” (Matthew 13: 29-30)
God does not lie, but he tolerates lies and liars for a good reason. All creation is tainted (Romans 3:23). By waiting until the harvest, all those who can be saved will be.
Application: As we look around at a world seemingly filled with Evil, it is easy to lose sight of the Good. We need to be intentional about where we choose to look. God can be found in his Word and in Prayer.
Food for Thought: What is the difference between a lie and an honest mistake?
In an honest mistake we are deceived either about what the truth is, our understanding of it, or have preconceptions or a world view which may not may it possible for us to fully apprehend, correctly conceive what truth is and what it’s implications are for our lives, as well as what changes or adjustments are necessary to fully comport our lives with it’s reality. This is inadvertent sin.
When we knowingly lie, we are just willfully sinful stinkers without a good excuse, though we may try to justify ourselves at times. Perhaps the most easily forgivable are situations where it would have been best to be quiet, but instead (we, I) speak a falsehood so as to hurt someone’s feelings.
Then there is the blatant, unvarnished, bold, truly deceitful speech or action of lying to protect ourselves from being caught either by something else which we did wrong, we just what to appear more righteous or mask a past which not might be everything which we might hope both we and others would like it to have been.
I John 1:9 and confession are good remedies in such cases.
What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.
The human heart is deceitful above all things, and beyond cure.
Who can understand it? (Jer. 17:9)
Psalm 51:5-16 gives us an example of what David did and prayed to be cleansed from sin. (It it a worthwhile example to follow for purposes of confession, while hopefully, not needing to repent from adultery and murder, though lust and anger mentally make each of us as guilty in our inward conscience as outward actions).
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the in most place.
Clean me with hyssop, and I will be clean ( Lit. “Un-sin” me); wash me, and I will be whiter than snow (when God washes David, and us, we are so pure that there is no figurative word(s) which can even describe it (Isa.1:18; Dan 7:9; Rev. 7:14; 19:14).
It certainly is better to walk with th he Lord in such a way that we experience constant joy and gladness.
However I am extremely Thankful that the Lord can:
“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew steadfast spirit within me. As well as He is able to “Restore to me the joy of His Salvation”. ECT. (Ps. 51:10,12a).
Thanks be to God who is greater than all our sin (1 Cor. 15:57).
Thank you, Jeff
Psalm 51 is a favorite of mine. David’s plea for restoration after being deceptive is a great reminder of the depth of God’s love for us.
Sorry comment should have said ” we lie so as to NOT hurt someone’s feelings instead of lying to hurt someone’s feelings. Although, I guess both actions are possible.
Jeff sums it up so well. I believe a lie, even a “little white lie” is intentional while an honest mistake is just that, a mistake. It wasn’t meant to be done. Sometimes, as humans, we make honest mistakes in trusting people we thought were good, who ended up being liars.
It’s like in the Garden of Eden, when Eve chose to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge, she was deceived by the serpent – who intentionally lied to her. Was it an honest mistake to trust the serpent? I would like to think so. And what about Adam when he trusted Eve? Now Adam didn’t lie to God when God asked him about what had happened. However, he was certainly quick to throw Eve under the bus and blame her for what he (Adam) had chosen to do when he also took a bite from the forbidden fruit.
I think it could potentially be seen that Adam and Eve were serving self-interests as well because they wanted more knowledge rather than trusting that their Maker had given them all they needed to exist and survive in Eden. With that said though, did Adam and Eve lie or make an honest mistake? To me, it was an honest mistake to trust the serpent, but the price to trusting the serpent was costly for all of us.
The bible says in Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.”
God grants wisdom to each of us. In reality, there is no reason to lie, not even a white lie, because if we are walking closely with Him, in His word, calling on Him to show the way and waiting patiently on Him, He will provide the wisdom and way, even to the smallest, trivial things.
Darla,
Thank you for pointing us to Adam and Eve! The Great Deceiver was at work then, just like he is now. It is just as important to be able to discern a lie today as it was then. And we need God’s guidance just as much.
What is the difference between a lie and an honest mistake?
A lie would be any verbal or non verbal statement of fact or response to a question which are known to be untrue.
An honest mistake could be a misunderstanding of the question, or unintentionally leaving out a point considered important by another.
Thank you, Ron!
It seems like there is lie upon lie these days in the news with those who lie accusing those who make an honest mistake of lying. It is one thing to make a judgment for ourselves, and quite another to pass judgment on someone else in public.
Well said. I don’t have much too add. I agree with sentiments here that a mistake is simply being wrong while a lie is intentional deception.
Good devotion brother. Thank you!
Thank you, Rich!
I always appreciate your encouragement! 🙂
Our own ignorance comes into play in honest mistakes.
And I make a lot of honest mistakes. 🤓
Happy Tuesday.
Well … at least you are honest about it! 🙂
It may be a lie by calling this site a Theology class,..but that’s what this site is to me,..I may make an honest mistake by saying that this is a theology class but to me I am not lying,..
There is some great Theology given here,..is that an honest mistake,..I hope not,..would anyone lie about Jesus Christ here? Again I would hope not,..could it be an honest mistake,..yes,..because that person more than likely hasn’t read enough about Jesus,..
So there is a huge difference as the above comments state between a lie and an honest mistake,..either way God is the judge in all of this,..He knows who is lying and who is not,..God is sooo much better than Santa ever was, is or will be. I am not lying about that because Santa has never come through for me like God has,..God has given me a better gift than Santa ever thought about giving me,..yep getting a little side tracked here,..there is no mistake about that gift,..His name is Jesus
Thanks for the Theology class guys and gal,..keep smiling!
John,
It is a great gift to be able to spend time here with believers who are willing to share their insights! Thank you for pointing that out.
May God bless and keep you all – tonight and every night! 🙂
Everything is great here. I think everyone added quite a bit to this daily devotion. I’m thankful for the threeminutebible.com. I have been adding what I’m thankful for this week in my prayers.
Thank you, Tim.
I am thankful for you, too!
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