The history of man is coloured with series of developmental stages characterized by challenges. One of such challenges faced by man is “The Battle against lie and deceit”

Lie and deceit are a cumbersome burden to many people among whom are some unfortunate Christians who have been caught in the web. Like a spider has made it practically impossible for its preys to extricate themselves from her tentacle so is the case with lying people in hands of their master – the devil “… he is a liar and a father of it…” (John 8:44).

Explicitly, Exodus 20: 3-4 emphatically commands that “thou shall not lie” and invariably Hebrews 6:18 and Numbers 23:19 vouch that “it is eternally impossible for God to lie” and as an alternating feature of the devil against God, the devil is a liar and father of all lies (John 8:44). As such, Christians who lie are joint-heirs with the devil the kingdom of hell (Rev. 21:. Therefore, it is expected that lies and deceits should not be mentioned among Christians (Col. 3:9).

THE CONCEPT OF LIES AND DECEITS.
Lie, according to Oxford Advanced Learner Dictionary is to say or write something that you know is not true. 1 John 2:21 ‘…no lie is truth.’ From the same source, deceit means a dishonest behavior that is intended to make somebody believes something that is not true. The differences between lie and deceit is that lie is generally spoken or written; but deceit includes anything, whether words or deeds that are intended to mislead people to believe what is not true. Lie and Deceit, in a nutshell, suggest dubious character aimed at misinforming, misleading or misrepresenting the truth (Rom. 1:25).

THE PRONENESS OF CHRISTIANS TO LIE AND DECEIT.
Man is good at the point of birth but the society is the corrupter of man. There are always two spirits speaking alternatively in a man’s mind, whether or not to tell lies or act deceitfully. Lie and deceit are sicknesses comparable to the disease of leprosy. When you extend a handshake to a leper, he converts it into a permanent hug. The same is the situation with lie and deceit.

When one tells the first lie, he is forced to invent supporting lies. Lie and deceit by nature have a reduplicating tendency, this means that they multiply.

THERE CAN BE MANY LIES BUT ONE TRUTH JOHN 8:32.

On the contrary, lies and deceit need many supports to stand the taste of time. This is why Veronica Ruth says that ‘lie and deceit require commitment’

Lying is synonymous with cell division in the body which, if out of control, turns to cancer and cancer kills (Acts 5:3, Heb. 6:4-6). Peter had the opportunity to correct the lies he had earlier told that he was not connected with Christ, instead, he perfected the lie by building on it (John 18:16,18,25-27; Luke 22:54-62).

In this respect, hypocrisy and vainglory forced them to lie. Also, in the story of Ananias and his wife, she had the opportunity to refute the lies told by her husband instead, she perfected it (Act 5:1-11). From these two instances of lies considered above, you will agree that truth does not cost anything but lie and deceit cost everything; one lie is enough to question all truth.

Christians today equally have these pressures around them. These pressures may persuade or dissuade them from telling lies depending on the Christian’s maturity or immaturity. Recall the story of Shedrach, Meshack and Abednego in Daniel 3:15.

In a bid to survive economic, political, social cultural and academic challenges, some Christians could be tempted to lie just like Jacob lied that he was Esau, so as to get his father’s blessings and wealth. “I am” Gen. 27:24. Christians are believed to be a righteous people and as such should resist lying and deceit or their tendencies by all available means (Proverb 13:15).

BIBLICAL INSTANCES OF DECEIT
Many people make superficial promises which they are sincerely aware that they have no intention of fulfilling. This tantamount to what is perceived as deceit by deliberately misleading the people. Are we guilty of this? (Jeremiah 5:2; Exodus 21:18; Psalm 24:4;1:4 Mathew 21: 30). On the other hand, we could make promises believing God to fulfill them but life challenges could hinder us from fulfilling them. In this situation, deceit is not the case. On the contrary:

Genesis 29:18, 28 gives a stretch account about Jacob’s ordeal of deceit in the hand of his uncle Laban. Having bargained to serve his uncle for seven years to get the hand of Rachael in marriage, Laban ended up presenting Leah in place of Rachael. Jacob expressed it that Laban beguiled or deceived him.
Pharaoh deceived Moses by promising severally to free the Israelites if the plagues were removed but did not keep his promises (Exodus 8:28-29).
Joseph brothers sold him to the Midianites: they soaked his coat in animal blood, brought it to Jacob and told him that his son had been killed by a wild animal (Gen 37:28,31 33).
Elymas the sorcerer tried to prevent Sergius Paulus from accepting the gospel. Paul accused him of being full of deceit and fraud (Acts 13:6-10).

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