Truth doesn't come in many forms, but lies come from all directions. What are the reasons for our fabrications and falsehoods? Do we seek more prosperous lives for ourselves, or do we see shame in the actions we are a part of? In the 5th chapter of Acts we see a first hand account of the patience God has toward our lies. However, we all of us, continue to relate lies with the will of God. Acts 5:1-11 says: "A man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the Apostle's feet. Then Peter said: 'Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold, wasn't your money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men, but to God." When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said "That is the price." Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also." At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

Now, rather or not the punishment would have been as severe if Ananias and his wife would have told Peter that they held back is unforeseen. But this chapter demonstrates the lack of patience God has for those who lie to him. Would the two have suffered a lesser fate if they told Peter the truth? I cannot answer that. But the fact they held back in the first place just goes to show their lack of faith in God as a provider. Three lies were told in an attempt to achieve whatever their goal was. The lie to hold back the money they had collected. The lie Ananias told to Peter to cover up the first lie. The lie told by Sapphira, to cover up the second lie.+

One act of deceit set off a chain reaction that led to the downfall of two people. Everyone is the same way. Once a lie is told another must be told to cover the latter and so on, and so forth until we reach a climactic ending where all the lies told comes crashing down. What is better, a lie which draws a smile, or a truth that brings a tear? I tell you, a tear is not always a bad thing. Tears are what help us to heal. Even a smile created by a lie will inevitably turn into a tear once the truth is confronted. The more lies told means the more the truth will hurt once it is found out.+ Recently, I was caught in the same trap. I lied to cover myself, and one lie led to another until the guilt was so heavy I had no choice but to cave and admit the truth to all who were involved, (and thank God it did). Once you tell the truth the consequences are never as bad as the consequences of a lie. If the truth was found out without one doing the right thing, the results would be much worse. What makes us think that telling a lie would be better than coming clean with the truth? What is inside of us to confuse us between right and wrong? Sense the beginning of time man has concealed our faults from the eyes of authority, and from the hearts of our loved ones. Kingdoms have been built on treachery and deceit. Empires have fallen at the consequence if lies. It entangles all of us in a web that stretches from Hell and back to earth again. It ensnares our hearts and devours our souls. The father of lies planted this seed in the Garden of Eden when he tricked Adam and Eve into eating the forbidden fruit. On the day humans fell we were endowed with the power to commits all acts of evil. Our payment for such an evil existence was not just our expulsion from paradise on earth, but our inevitable death. The same chain reaction which caused all evil continues within all of us. With the grace and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and the forgiveness of Yahweh God the chain is broken, and our lives are saved in the kingdom of heaven. The truth is God is creator of Heaven and Earth. He is the creator of the universe. He is the creator of the deepest oceans. The birds chirp at his command, and the winds blow under his management. The Sun kisses the night sky and gives birth to daylight at the will of God almighty. We live by the breath of Jesus Christ, and His word is truth.+ In the continuations of the study of truth, I will be exploring the possible reasons for our decisions to lie, and I hope to come to a conclusion on how to stop this enormous chain which anchors us to our deceit.