Father of Lies

He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. - John 8:44

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In the midst of His polemic against the unbelief of the sinful Jewish leadership of the time, Christ characterizes Lucifer, the devil himself, as the father of lies: one who reveals his truest character when he speaks untruth; one completely separated from truth itself. 

Contrast this with what Numbers 23:19 tell us about God: “God is not a man, that He should lie.”

Paul agrees in Titus 1:2, “…God, who cannot lie,” as does the writer to the Hebrews: “…it is impossible for God to lie,” (Hebrews 6:18).

Repeatedly, God went to great lengths in Scripture to tell us that it is impossible for Him to betray the truth. Why? Because to do so would be a betrayal of His nature as God:

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and THE TRUTH, and the life.” - John 14:6 (my emphasis)

God cannot cease to be God, and for Him to lie would be a violation of that essential reality.

Now, given that, notice again that Christ does not excoriate Satan for being hateful, judgmental, intolerant or bigoted. His fundamental charge is that Satan is completely disconnected from truth. 

We are all well-acquainted with the notion that God is love (I John 4:8). But if God is love (and He is), and it is impossible for God to lie (and it is), then we are left with the reality that love and truth are inextricably linked. 

You cannot be loving someone if you’re lying to them.

Our day and age is one utterly consumed by untruth. Lies and deceit are the very air we breathe. We are bombarded with them constantly. What’s worse is that many of us in the Body of Christ have begun to capitulate to them, as well. We wrap the lies up in nice packaging and call them something other than what they really are: affirmations, political correctness, positive thinking. We hide behind simplistic and and naive notions of love that do not insist on upholding the truth and pat ourselves on the back for being accepting, tolerant and non-judgmental. 

We play Lucifer’s game while pretending to walk in the footsteps of Christ. 

My friends, God hates (Romans 9:13). God is not tolerant of evil (Revelation 2:20). God commands His people to “judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24). These things are not the unforgivable sins our modern society tells us they are.

But God cannot lie. And He commands us to be like Him. And no matter how nice and pleasant the wrapping they come in may be, lies are never of God. Ever. 

The world says that all you need is love. God tells you that you will never have love if you forsake truth.

“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into Him who is the head, into Christ…” - Ephesians 4:15

The truth. In love. If you don’t have both, you have neither. 

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