… he is a liar and the father of lies.
Summary: They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Fortunately for humanity, our God is able to take bad apples and make them good again.
There are “bad dad” jokes and then there are bad dads. A bad dad is someone who “begat’s” and then “scats.” (I’m not talking about the men who are absent because of military duty or other just cause.) Then there is the “bad dad” who stays around but does more harm than good.
I am not in the business of passing judgment here, so I will not be using any personal examples. People are people. I heard someone say the other day that everyone who comes to Christ for salvation “has a past.” So true!
That said, there is an example that comes to mind.
John, chapter eight, is an amazing dialog between Jesus and the Jews. Jesus comes to the temple courts and ends up in a debate with the Pharisees about who he (Jesus) really is and who they are. As the debate continues, it gets personal. The Pharisees disparage Jesus’ father not understanding that his father is the Father. Jesus, in turn, drops a truth bomb on them:
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
Wow!
How would you like to be having a “churchy” discussion with someone and suddenly get called out for being a child of Satan?
Guess what? The Pharisees didn’t like it either!
Unfortunately for them, Jesus knew what he was talking about. He knows who the devil is, and he knew the hearts of the Pharisees. In another place, he tells us what kind of father figure these children of the devil make:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23: 15)
Bad dads lead their kids down the wrong paths. Satan is the baddest dad of all.
In spiritual terms, we get to choose which family we want to belong to. Do we want God to be our Father, or will we reject God and choose to follow the devil’s lies?
Application: Choose God!
Food for Thought: Since the nature of a lie is to pretend to sound like truth, how are we to tell when someone is lying?
Since the nature of a lie is to pretend to sound like truth, how are we to tell when someone is lying?
The first thing that comes to mind would be a polygraph but that’s not a biblical answer. I will ponder and return with a better response.
Tim,
Actually, your answer is interesting. How does a polygraph work? It works by measuring subtle changes in physiology. Some of these changes can be observed by simply watching a person closely and paying attention their behavior. One area that the polygraph does not track but is very revealing is a person’s eyes.
We do have a form of polygraph in Scripture. It is a grid through which to measure and evaluate truth claims. It reveals God’s standard and we can evaluate world view truth claims against a biblical world view. If something fails that test – be careful. John 17: 17; Colossians 2: 6 – 8; 2 Corinthians 10: 5; 2 Timothy 3: 16 – 17; 2 Peter 1: 20 – 21.
Rich,
Excellent point and (as usual!) great Scripture references! I’ve included a couple of them below:
John 17:17
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
Colossians 2:8
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ.”
Before I walked with the Lord, I did alot of “math” if I thought I was being presented a lie. I might ask questions or look things up to try and determine the truth. Using that method though piviots on me asking the right questions and getting the other person to finally admit the truth, otherwise you never really know. Also, I remember that at some level it became about being lied to, instead of living in truth. There was an element of pride in the whole thing.
As my walk with the Lord grows closer I find that the awareness of a lie is different. Its not that i am being directly “told” its a lie, but rather that what is being said goes against what God would have in our lives. This doesnt just apply to the people i talk to, but when i watch tv or movies, and in what i read. I find i look for the true meaning of what message is being conveyed, and hold it against God’s standards. Truth belongs to God, and God cannot be against Himself. If what is being said counters what God wants in your life. Then it cannot be the truth.
I appreciate Rich’s verses and grid. I like that alot!
Well said, Chris.
I appreciate the transition you made from relying on your own “calculations” to relying on Christ and His Word.
10-29-2022, Since the nature of a lie is to pretend to sound like truth, how are we to tell when someone is lying?
1 Corinthians 12:8-10, For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, TO ANOTHER DISCERNING OF SPIRITS, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
Hebrews 5:14, Philippians 1:9-1
God, will provide the power of discernment, by the power of His Holy Spirit, to His people as required.
When I read this years ago, I was a new believer and very excited about this gift. I prayed for it and immediately began discerning everyone around me. Looking at everything they did or said and with my powers of discernment, placing everything in a truth or lie box.
God took me aside and explained, how He had given this gift to me so I could first, look at myself. So I continued studying God’s Word and began comparing my actions with those God requires from His people. I had a lot of work ahead of me, but it was definitely the place to begin.
Today I am an old man, carrying my old bible to church with me each Sunday. I have it opened at every service and bible study so I can verify truth. As I interact with other people I accept what they say regarding their personal life.
Ron,
As one old man to another, thank you for sharing the story about the Lord pointing your gift of discernment at yourself. Matthew 7:5 points us in the same direction and like you, I’ve found God nudging me to look in the mirror and deal with what I see.
Another thought provoking devotion, and I am not lying about that.
One thing I have come to know that if I tell the truth I don’t have to remember anything, but if I lie I have to remember what I lied about and to who I lied to. Such a tangled web weaved that there really is no way out but to confront the people lied to and ask for their forgiveness. Honesty is always the best policy even if I have to stand silent before my accusers like Jesus did.
Jesus told the truth about who He is and that got Him taken to the cross. People took Him as a liar, quite the opposite from the question, but the Pharisee’s took Jesus as a liar when in fact it was the other way around like you mention Jeff.
I am not a good liar so I wouldn’t really know how to tell, but I do agree with Chris H. on if what is being said goes against what God would have in our lives. Well put,.. thanks. Because you are right, truth does belong to God, and He can not be against Himself.
Like I said Jeff, thanks for another thought provoking devotion,..
John,
Thank you for the encouragement, brother. I appreciate that!
I also appreciate your comment about Jesus telling the truth and what that got him. I am reminded that speaking the Truth about Jesus is a big part of what being a Christian is about. Thank you!
I returned….. and after reading everyone’s comments, I appreciate all the “Wise” comments of followers of Christ.
Jeff and Ron you both are Wise. not old.
I guess it wouldn’t be wise to argue with THAT! 🙂