Look around you, and you will soon discover there are people everywhere who lie for a living. Business leaders, religious leaders, politicians, and many others in leadership positions, as well as those who serve and enable them.

I am not talking about people who occasionally misspeak or tell a white lie to impress someone and make themselves feel important. These are forgivable. I’m talking about people who lie to deceive others. People who lie for a living. People who lie so easily that it has become part of their nature. Habitual liars.

They are, as Jesus said, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

There are no liars in heaven. Revelation makes this abundantly clear. “But as for the cowardly, the unbelieving, the detestable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death”. (Revelation 21:8)

Lies break trust – Trust is like a glass window—easy to see through, hard to fix when cracked.

Lies hurt people. They twist reality and can ruin friendships, relationships, and families.

Lies hurt you. You start to fear being found out. Your heart grows heavy, and you become afraid of your own shadow.

Lies separate us from God. God is truth. When we choose lies, we walk away from Him and turn our backs on Him.

Heaven is God’s realm, filled with His light. There are no liars in Heaven because there is no darkness there.

“And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. (1 John 1:5-6).

The trouble is, if you tell a lie often enough, eventually you begin to believe it yourself. In the beginning, you tell a lie to deceive others, but after telling it many times, you start to believe it because the corrupting nature of lies infects you like a deadly virus.

1. PRIDE – They want to gain popularity, so they tell people what they want to hear instead of telling them the truth.

2. MALICE – The most harmful lies are told with the intent to harm or destroy others. They start with malicious intent.

3. FEAR – People often lie to avoid punishment or uncomfortable consequences for their actions.

4. SELFISHNESS – Many biblical accounts show people using lies to get something they want or to promote their own self-interest. The end justifies the means mentality.

The Bible traces lying back to a corrupted human heart. Jesus taught that evil, including “false witness,” comes from within a person’s heart (Matthew 15:18–20).

If you said no, you just told a lie.

All of us have lied at some point in our lives, as children, as teenagers, as adults, as Christians.

Abraham and Isaac: Both patriarchs lied about their wives being their sisters to protect themselves from hostile kings. They feared the kings would kill them to take their wives. (Genesis 12, 20, 26).

The Apostle Peter denied knowing Jesus 3 times. He lied three times because he feared for his safety, even to the point of swearing and cursing.

These people knew they were lying and did it anyway because they were afraid, so how is it they found their place in heaven?

They grieved and were saddened by their weakness, and humbly sought God’s forgiveness.

This is the only way to have God clean your sin away.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

They say confession is good for the soul, and it is, but when you mix it with genuine repentance, it restores you.

Remember Peter’s denial three times?

Did Jesus condemn Peter?

No.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again, Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”

No condemnation. No, Peter, you are so weak and useless. All Jesus was doing was helping Peter reaffirm his love for Him, restoring him to his former place, and giving him a new, more important task.

The command to “feed” and “tend” the “lambs” and “sheep” is seen as a mandate for Peter to provide spiritual care, guidance, and nourishment for the entire Christian flock.

I believe lambs refer to new believers and young believers, whereas sheep refer to those who are more mature in the faith.

Run to God and tell Him the truth. “Lord, I lied. I’m sorry.”

Tell the person you lied to the truth. “I wasn’t honest. Here’s what really happened.”

Do the right thing. Make it right. Fix what you can—return, repay, or correct the record.

Build new truth habits. Practice truth in small things, and it will grow in big things.

You sleep better, no double life.

You feel better, more at peace with yourself and your surroundings.

People trust you. Trust opens doors.

You will look and sound more like Jesus. The world needs that.

You’ll be getting ready for Heaven. Truth here prepares you for life there.

“Lord Jesus, I confess the times I have lied with my words, my posts, or my silence. Please forgive me. Clean my heart. Give me the courage to tell the truth with kindness. Help me fix what I’ve broken and help me live honestly this week. Let your light shine through me in every conversation or interaction I have with others. Amen.”

Phil is a minister in the United Life Church and is a retired Professional Counselor. He is a father to 3 wonderful daughters and six amazing grandchildren. He is also husband to an incredible woman who never ceases to amaze him.