The Power of a Lie
Have you ever told a lie? Of course, you have. Everyone has been untruthful at one point, and we learn this as children. A lie is the opposite of the truth. Even if there is some truth mixed into it, a lie is still a lie. The power of a lie is extreme. Where did the lie originate from? Keep reading and perhaps your eyes will be opened to more than just this.
Gossip
Have you ever been affected by gossip? Depending on the information being spread, gossip can devastate, and even ruin a life. Having someone spread a lie about you was once done by word of mouth, but in this day and age social media makes it impossible to forget a lie because it will be online forever. The “grape vine” is long and wide in today’s world. Speaking of which, that famous phrase was penned after the invention of the grapevine telegraph.
Samuel Morse gave the first telegraph demonstration in 1844, and the first telegraph lines were placed in 1859 by Colonel Frederick A. Bee. However, they were very unreliable and became the butt of jokes. It is surmised that this was where the phrase “Heard it through the grapevine” originated from. The Pony Express would often be used in lieu of the telegraph. That shows how reliable it was in its conception!
Yes, the power of a lie is extreme when it is accepted as truth. It becomes even stronger when there is even a minute semblance of evidence to back it up. After all, if more than one person will swear that the blue car was actually green, even though you personally saw the car, it will be possible to sway you into believing it was actually green.
Is there such a thing as good gossip?
- If I were to tell someone how talented you are at your job and deserving that raise, would that be gossip?
- Your child or grandchild is a straight “A” student, is that gossip or boasting?
- “My neighbors party all of the time and argue through the night.”
- “I think Jane is having an affair. I have seen her talking to other men.”
- “Bob is leaving his wife. I heard him tell George that he needs a change.”
- “Can we start a prayer chain for Hillary? She just discovered she has cancer.”
Out of the above examples, which would you consider to be appropriate to share with another person? I personally see the last request as acceptable because even though this person is divulging information, it is for the purpose of lifting her up in prayer.
Slander
By definition, slander is a false spoken statement that is meant to cause people to have a bad opinion of another person. Example: “I would leave her alone because she has herpes.” Knowing this statement to be an absolute falsehood is slander.
Libel
By definition, libel is a written or spoken statement meant to convey an unfavorable impression of someone. How are slander and libel similar? They both spread false information and can also be termed as defamation. Libel is a permanent record of false information and is easier to prove in a court of law because of it.
Where Did The Lie Originate
Where did the lie originate from? It may surprise you to learn that the lie was invented in heaven by an angel named Lucifer. Fewer people believe in God and heaven these days and this makes Lucifer -aka Satan- very happy.
Isaiah 14:12-17
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most high.’
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the pit.
Lucifer grew jealous of his creator and all of the worship He received. Lucifer wanted this for himself and set about his campaign against God, his slanderous campaign that would turn a third of the angels away from God. Did you notice all of the “I’s” in that above verse? Lucifer is certainly full of himself isn’t he? We call that pride and the Lord really dislikes a prideful nature, as He makes this clear here in Proverbs 16:18 (KJV)18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Revelation 12:7-9
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
The Lie Came to Earth
Once Lucifer (now called Satan) was cast down to earth, he discovered the newly created couple Adam and Eve and began to plot another devious plan against God; why not turn God’s new creation against Him and take the earth for himself and all of its inhabitants?
Adam and Eve had not been alive for very long, for as we can see in Genesis, they had not yet had any children. After they sinned and disobeyed God, it was then that curses were laid upon them as well as Satan. Eve would bear great pain in childbirth. Adam would be cursed as well:
Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam, he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
As you may already know, Satan used a serpent to deceive Eve and trick her into eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. She then gave some of it to Adam and their eyes were opened. Now aware of their sin and nakedness, they hid from God, yet God knows all.
What Was the Lie
Satan twisted God’s words and told Eve that she would surely NOT die, but her eyes would be opened and she would become like God and know good from evil. That one lie destroyed God’s perfect world and He has been working ever since to show humanity as well as His remaining angels in heaven that His ways are just.
I suggest reading “The Great Controversy” By E.G.White
All Have Sinned and Fall Short
Because of our ancestors’ disobedience, we are all born with the propensity to sin. The only person who lived a sinless, perfect life is our savior Jesus, who died on the cross so that we may be forgiven and have the promise of everlasting life upon His return. (If we turn from sin and follow Him.) Are you ready to live a better life now and know that eternal life waits for you?
Tomorrow is Never Promised
What will happen if we hesitate to surrender our lives today and die tonight? I shudder each time We discuss this in Bible study, because knowing what I now know, this writer would not be in the first resurrection. I would have been lost and would suffer a second death.
I am so very blessed and thankful knowing that my sins are forgiven and now there is the promise of everlasting life. You can have that assurance as well!
Heavenly Father, I pray that the one reading this message will feel your love and turn to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
