We have the account of Ananias and Sapphira in the first century. Acts 5:1-11 “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’ Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?’ She said, ‘Yes, for so much.’ Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’ Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.” Ananias and Sapphira wanted to look good in the eyes of the brethren by pretending to give all of the proceeds from the sale of some land to the apostles. They lied about how much they received for the property. They lied to God.
Can we really deceive God? God cannot be deceived since He is all-knowing and sees everything. We are told in Hebrews 4:13 “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” The psalmist described it this way. Psalms 139:1-4 “O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; you understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.”
We have another story in the Bible about someone trying to lie before God. In 2 Kings 5, we read about Naaman, the commander of the army of Syria, and that he was a leper. Naaman came to the prophet Elisha in Israel to be healed of his leprosy and Elisha told him to dip seven times in the river Jordan and he would be clean. When he obeyed the prophet, his flesh was restored like the flesh of a child and he was clean. Naaman was very grateful. Verses 15-16 “And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, ‘Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.’ But he said, ‘As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing.’ And he urged him to take it, but he refused.” So Naaman left. Verse 20 “But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, ’Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.’” So Gehazi pursued Naaman, lied to him, and convinced him to give gifts of silver and clothes. Gehazi took the gifts, returned home, and hid the gifts. Verses 25-27 “Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, ‘Where did you go, Gehazi?’ And he said, ‘Your servant did not go anywhere.’ Then he said to him, ‘Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.’ And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.” God obviously let Elisha see what Gehazi did. This story illustrates again that nothing is hidden from God. We cannot lie to God.
Consider what is written in Galatians 6:7-8 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” You and I should not deceive ourselves. There are certain basic truths that are undeniable and one of these truths is that God is not mocked. You can’t fool God. You can’t outsmart God. He is all knowing and He knows what you do in your life. If you sow to your flesh, you will reap corruption. If you sow to the Spirit, you will reap everlasting life. You will reap what you sow. You cannot mock or deceive God because He knows what you do.
We might be attempting to lie to God if we secretly sin. We know better, but we think we can get away with it. But God knows. The psalmist wrote in Psalms 90:8 “You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.”
In the judgement, everything will be revealed. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Mark 4:22 “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.”
Philip brought Nathanael to Jesus. John 1:47 “Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, ‘Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!’” This quality of being without deception is sometimes called “integrity” or “trustworthiness”. In other words, there was no falseness in Nathanael. I encourage you to have no falseness in you. Be open and honest before God and your fellow man. You cannot lie to God.