You are of your father the Devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and has not stood in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks from his own nature, because he is a liar and the father of liars.
John 8:44 HCSB
This verse is so uncompromising in its description of the nature of Satan. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life—and Satan is “the father of lies and of all that is false” (Amplified Bible). All that is false! Every evasion and prevarication and exaggeration and pretension originates with Satan. If it were up to him, everyone would stay trapped in his web of lies. And that’s a point I want to address.
I’ve pretty well covered the “rewards” of lying in laying out the myriad variations of the approval of man we chase with our deceits. But the stick is particularly effective as well. In addition to eroding our self-respect and moral fortitude, lying often involves a contract.
The contract is generally implied, kind of a tit-for-tat deal. “When I lie and you know it, cover for me and I’ll do the same for you.” That’s probably the basis for many relationships, and it’s certainly a requirement of your average friendship. I am very well acquainted with this particular contract of lies. And the sad thing is, covering for someone is what passes for loyalty most of the time. This is a prime contract, and a tough one to break. If I speak the truth, I risk being exposed for the liar I am as well.
By the way, I’m not talking about big lies here. These contracts are usually the purview of your everyday, ordinary “white” liars. “I never eat at McDonalds!” “I don’t know who out there buys US Weekly – it’s pure trash.” “I’m not one to talk about people but…” It’s the little things that add up over time, eating away at our souls and binding us tighter and tighter until we don’t see a way out. Or worse, we don’t even notice any more because our conscience is too hard to even be pricked.
Martha has said that we don’t realize that we’re more transparent than we think. She didn’t mean transparent as in honest, but rather transparent as in easily seen through. People see us far more clearly than we’d like, that’s for sure. It’s also a Biblical principle.
For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.
Luke 8:17 NKJV
And it’s this very principle that Satan twists with shame and fear to ensnare us. He tells us that the Light is punishment and condemnation, and we believe him because we know that we aren’t clean. What will happen if we’re exposed? Nothing good! Or so Satan tells us. It’s all a house of cards though, because there is no truth in him.
I can tell you that I was exposed, I was seen, and I was called on all of it. I won’t tell you it wasn’t painful, but the pain was the pain of utter humiliation and wounded pride. It was my flesh screaming and dying, like a vampire shoved in sunlight. And then it was over.
When I was freed by Truth, I looked around at the Body of Christ with new eyes. I saw people that were former slaves to sin, just like me. I met compassion and grace and forgiveness. Everything I’d thought would happen was a hideous lie, a lie about a loving God and the Light He walks in. The Light comes to us all, and either you gather with those who receive it and let it burn away all that is dark and wicked…or you join up with the blind and deluded, the pretenders who are dying in the dark.
The Light is love, Love, LOVE.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:23-24 HCSB
Your article is very interesting with catchy title. I first began reading it with an interest in doing some research on the subject. I would ask: If you took God and Satan out of the equation would your moral identity change? You see these kinds of truths are universal to mankind regardless of race, creed or religion. Its a requirement for people who have healthy,promising relations to constantly strive for a contract of honesty amongst themselves, don’t you think?
Addition to first post: I like your insight but I would add that in order for me to escape the web of lies I had to come to grips with the fact that man and not Satan is the father of all lies. You hit upon it with your comment ” the approval of man we chase with our deceits”. The most honest statement. You see the lies and deceit go deeper than you may have considered. Satan is a religious contrivance. A scapegoat if you will to allow us to lay blame elsewhere for our inadequacies, fragility and sins.… Read more »
Wow. Lies are the way to get away with my will and my way. My flesh rejoices in them, but the Spirit starves to death. That’s why the Truth and Light in Jesus feels as death to my soul, because it cuts off those many things it rejoices in.
Your “vampire” metaphor is so exact and perfect. 🙂
Love you, sister.
Oh I can so identify with this Truth, Light and LOVE…..”I (also) was exposed, I was seen, and I was called on all of it” Bless you, thank you Jennifer for this post of LOVE.