The Invention of Lying was a 2009 comedy set in an imagined world where mankind knows nothing about what it means to tell a lie. In the tale, an unsuccessful lecture-film writer, Mark Bellison, is the person who invents lying. He tells the first lie (about how much money he has in the bank) to a teller. Then he tells his frightened, dying mother the “ultimate” lie: “There is a heaven.” She dies happy, but the rest of the world is stunned by his lie. The movie ends with Mark happily married—with a son who has acquired his ability to lie.
The alternative world of Mark Bellison is a lie. Mark did not invent lying. He’s not the first person to do it. Jesus made it clear that lying is the devil’s invention. He’s the father of lies and “has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him” (John 8:44). Satan spun the first lies when he contradicted God (“You won’t die!”) and deceived Eve to believe that God was a liar (“Did God really say?”) (Genesis 3:1,4).
After that time, mankind became “children of . . . the devil” and chronic, persistent liars (John 8:44). Adam and Eve lied to God to evade responsibility (Genesis 3:11-13). Cain lied to God about his brother (Genesis 4:9). Abraham told a half-truth about his relationship with Sarah—twice (Genesis 12:13, 20:2). Sarah lied to God (Genesis 18:15). Isaac lied, denying that Rebecca was his wife (Genesis 26:7). And we’re just halfway through Genesis! Lying was and is a part of human nature.
Heaven, however, is not a lie. It’s a place of eternal peace (John 14:1-4), while hell will provide unending torment (Revelation 20:10-15). All unrepentant sinners (liars included) will realize that “their fate is in the fiery lake of burning sulfur” (Revelation 21:8). That’s definitely not a lie! (Numbers 23:19).
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 24:13-43
More:
What does God think of lying and liars? (See Exodus 20:16; Psalm 5:6; Proverbs 6:16-17, Proverbs 12:22.)
Next:
Jesus said that you’re either a child of God or a child of the devil (John 8:42-45). What should characterize your life if you’re a child of God?
mike wittmer on September 30, 2013 at 9:55 am
This is a good word. Words are the most powerful thing in the world, and when we use them to lie they will turn back and destroy us. We live in a world of lies, spin, and half truths. As you say, K.T., thank God for his sure and certain Word!
tom felten on September 30, 2013 at 9:55 am
KT, I was studying Genesis 3:1-10 this past week. It’s interesting to see how Satan initially misquoted God and the completely denied what He said. That progression is something we all experience . . . we’re tempted to deny God and His Word. Once we begin to turn away from Him, it’s so easy to completely deny His authority and truth.