Deception, as well as slander, is everywhere these days — especially online and on social media. Unfortunately, it’s also in the pulpits of many “churches”. Unsurprisingly, we were warned by Jesus, and other New Testament writers to beware of false prophets and the deception of Satan in the Last Days. Nevertheless, way back in King David’s day, we learn that God punishes those who slander His believers, His followers, and His servants. Let’s dig in…
Psalm 64
For the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 O God, listen to my complaint.
Protect my life from my enemies’ threats.
2 Hide me from the plots of this evil mob,
from this gang of wrongdoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim their bitter words like arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent,
attacking suddenly and fearlessly.
5 They encourage each other to do evil
and plan how to set their traps in secret.
“Who will ever notice?” they ask.
6 As they plot their crimes, they say,
“We have devised the perfect plan!”
Yes, the human heart and mind are cunning.7 But God himself will shoot them with his arrows,
Psalm 64 NLT
suddenly striking them down.
8 Their own tongues will ruin them,
and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 Then everyone will be afraid;
they will proclaim the mighty acts of God
and realize all the amazing things he does.
10 The godly will rejoice in the Lord
and find shelter in him.
And those who do what is right
will praise him.
God Punishes Liars
Going to the second-to-last book of the Bible, John describes how beautiful the new Heaven and the new Earth will be. Additionally we’re told there will be no more pain, sorrow or crying for those who are born again and have their one-way, non-stop ticket to heaven. (By the way, there is no such thing as purgatory!)
Amazingly, in the midst of the description we find this…
8 “But cowards, unbelievers, the corrupt, murderers, the immoral, those who practice witchcraft, idol worshipers, and all liars—their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
Revelation 21:8 NLT (emphasis mine)
The “second death” is spending eternity in hell. Subsequently, the author of Hebrews writes…
27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, 28 so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
Hebrews 9:27-28 NLT
(Related: What Happens when Every Person Stands Before the Judgment Seat of Christ?)
Paul wrote…
25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.
Romans 1:25, 28-29 NLT
Even a “white lie” is a sin! As you can see, gossip is a sin! Hate is a sin! If you are a target of lies and bullying online because of your faith, remember what Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount…
11 “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12 Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
Matthew 7:11-12 NLT
What about false prophets and preachers in church and online?
Obviously, the problem here is that these false preachers are clever and it seems like they are righteous and preaching the truth when they’re really not. I remember after I became born again, but still had not been baptized, I was still attending a United Church of Christ (UCC) in Florida. (I didn’t know any better.)
One Sunday, the pastor was preaching on John chapter 3 — that’s when Nicodemus came to Jesus in the night. The pastor read the verse where Jesus told him…
“I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”
John 3:3 NLT
Then, the pastor said something to the effect of “But “that ‘born again’ doesn’t mean ‘born again’.”
At that moment, I thought, “Huh?” Then, something inside me shut my hearing and I can’t remember the rest. It’s like the Holy Spirit was protecting me from lies. Soon after that, I moved to Arizona where God led me to a bible-believing church and away from the lies and deception of the UCC.
As it turned out, that pastor had a nervous breakdown, left the congregation, and eventually started teaching World Religions at a college. Did that pastor get hit by one of God’s arrows? I don’t know. That’s between the pastor and God.
Nevertheless, let me read the last 4 verses of this psalm again — it’s the part where God punishes liars…
7 But God himself will shoot them with his arrows,
Psalm 64:7-10 NLT
suddenly striking them down.
8 Their own tongues will ruin them,
and all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 Then everyone will be afraid;
they will proclaim the mighty acts of God
and realize all the amazing things he does.
10 The godly will rejoice in the Lord
and find shelter in him.
And those who do what is right
will praise him.
My point is…
You can’t discern lies from biblical truth without the Holy Spirit and you can’t have the Holy Spirit in your heart unless you are Born Again.
If you’ve been the victim of online bullying, slander, or lying, take heart in knowing that God punishes liars. Pray for the person who slandered you. Pray for their salvation and praise God that there is a reward waiting for you in Heaven!
If you’ve lied — and who hasn’t? — there is hope for you and Salvation through Jesus Christ…
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
Believe. Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit.
- Believe — have Faith — that Jesus is the Christ and He died taking your sins away forever and that He rose from the dead 3 days later.
- Repent of your sins — stop sinning! Do a complete 180-degree turn in your life and surrender your life to Him. When you ask Jesus to forgive you He will. ALL your sins will be wiped clean — past, present, and future! And All means ALL!
- Be Baptized by water baptism — show the world and yourself that you have died to your old life and are born again in Christ.
- Receive the gift of Holy Spirit in your heart.
