October 26 – LD 43, Day 5: Many Lies

Psalm 119: 118: “Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.”

The lie takes many different forms. False doctrine is the expression of the lie. There is the lie that the Bible has flaws, is not trustworthy in everything it says. That is the very lie of Satan in the garden. There is the common denial of God’s absolute sovereignty, His divine directing and governing of all things. There is the denial of creation as set forth in the Book of Genesis, the work of God’s hands. There is the teaching, contrary to the Bible, that God loves everybody and wants everybody to be saved, if only they will accept Him. There are many teachings which deny the application of God’s precepts to our lives today. There are many teachings that defile holy marriage, that deny marriage as an unbreakable bond between one man and one woman. The acceptability of divorce, the permissibility of remarriage as the best thing for the happiness of the divorced person, is common and widely accepted in our day, though contrary to the Word of God. It is by the deceit of Satan that there is a muddying or a watering down of biblical concepts. And the fruit is as the Spirit has spoken expressly concerning these last days, that some “depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (I Tim 4:1). Even as there is evidence of the wrath of God upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness and turn it into a lie, we see God’s truth held fast. So we are told in Romans 1:18 and following.

The lie and the power of the tongue under the embrace of Satan have terrible consequences also in our relationships to others. To bear false witness can take the form of lying about someone, or misrepresenting him or her. But it can also come to expression many other ways. To leave out certain facts in order to leave an evil impression is to follow the lie of Satan. To imply evil intentions on the part of someone, of whom false motives and evil intentions were absent, is to abandon truth. God knows how guilty we have made ourselves by these grievous sins which raise suspicions and evil thoughts about fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. God calls all to repentance.