We live in a world where lying is as common as a drink of water. It is very difficult to believe anyone that you don’t know personally. God instructs us in Exodus 20:16 not to bear false witness. This is one of the Ten Commandments. God gives us instructions throughout His word to be truthful and honest in all areas of our lives. Yet, it is the most common sin that is used and excused. People even give grades to lying by calling them white lies if they don’t think they are causing, in their eyes, harm to others. For a Christian, this should not be the case. We are called to be like Christ. We are given the Holy Spirit to help us to do right, and we are given the example of God the Father who cannot lie.
In Titus 1:2, Paul expresses a truth from God that we have the hope of eternal life that was promised to all who place their faith in Jesus. He established this before the world began. Paul gives validity to this promise because God cannot lie.
Titus 1:2 “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”
In Hebrews 6:13, we see God made a promise to Abraham in Genesis 22:16. Abraham had passed the test of His love and obedience to God when God instructed him to sacrifice his only son. In verse 16, God said that by “myself have I sworn.” There can be no greater being than God himself, and this promise from God was sealed by His own existence. When God makes a promise, it is as good as done! In Genesis 22:17-18, He rewarded Abraham’s obedience with a blessing. “I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice”
Hebrews 6:13 “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself”
Genesis 22:16 “And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son”
Because God cannot lie, we can trust the promises He has made to us. In Isaiah 40:31, He promises if we wait on His direction, we will gain strength. In Isaiah 41:10, we are told not to fear and if we depend on Him, we are promised strength and help from Him. In Hebrews 10:23, we have the promise of His faithfulness to us. In Isaiah 43:2, we are promised His presence no matter what tragedies come our way. In II Peter 3:9, we are told he is not slack like we are but “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” His desire is for all to be saved. In Revelation 3:20, he knocks on our heart’s door and if we open it, He will come in. For those who surrender to Him and accept His Son’s death as payment for their sins, repent, believe, and make Him Lord of their lives, He has promised eternal life with Him. In John 14:3, we are promised that Jesus who died for us, rose from the grave, and ascended to Heaven will one day come back for us. If He said it, it is true!
One thing I have determined not to do is to be characterized as a liar or a lazy person. As a believer, I am to portray the character of God. Many will never read the Bible before salvation. They will not know about the character of God unless they see it in us. As we have looked at many of the promises of God, it should encourage us to push forward and seek to be like Him. God’s word is full of great and precious truths from Him, and we can trust them. Knowing that my God cannot lie is huge to my desire to continue to follow Him when the world is so depraved. In many situations we face, it may appear there is no hope for a positive outcome. That is when I turn to scripture and trust what God has said. This brings me back to the main verse of this devotion; Titus 1:2 “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” I have the promise from a God that cannot lie, that I have eternal life when I place my faith in Him and live in obedience to Him. Men will fail me, men will lie, but my God cannot lie. Examine your life today. Are you stretching the truth? Are you lying because you fear the outcome if you tell the truth? Do you lie in the way you express your words, not actually telling a lie but your expression shows you don’t believe what you are saying? It is better to say nothing at all than to lie. It is a commandment from God, and He is our great example. God cannot lie and neither should we. There are to be no exceptions to obedience.
