The Price of Deceit—God Will Bring Every Lie to Light

Good morning, church! Today, we’re going to talk about a subject that hits close to home for all of us: deceit. Lying, scamming, stealing, gossiping, bearing false witness—it’s all deceit. And while the world might try to excuse or justify it, God’s Word makes it crystal clear: deceit is sin, and it carries serious consequences.

God Hates Deceit

Let’s not sugarcoat this. Proverbs 6:16-19 lists seven things the Lord hates, and guess what? Lying and deceit make the list twice! It says,

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”

Do you see how serious this is? Deceit isn’t just a bad habit or a character flaw—it’s something God hates. And when God hates something, we’d better sit up and take notice.

All Lies Will Be Exposed

You might be able to fool people, but you can’t fool God. Numbers 32:23 warns, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” And Jesus Himself said in Luke 12:2-3,

“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight.”

Think about that for a moment. Every secret scam, every whispered gossip, every little white lie—it’s all coming to light. Imagine standing before God with every deceitful act replayed. It’s a sobering thought, isn’t it?

The world may reward deceit. It might even call it clever or strategic. But God sees through it all, and He promises justice. Proverbs 19:5 says,

“A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will not go free.”

Deceit Hurts Others and Destroys Trust

Let’s be honest: deceit doesn’t just hurt the liar—it hurts everyone involved. When you lie to someone, you betray their trust. When you scam someone, you take what doesn’t belong to you. When you spread false witness, you damage someone’s reputation. The Bible says in Ephesians 4:25,

“Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Lies create division, but truth builds community.

Have you ever been lied to? It hurts, doesn’t it? That’s why God commands us to be people of integrity. Deceit destroys relationships, but truth brings healing and restoration.

Deceit Comes at an Eternal Price

Now let’s get real about the consequences. Revelation 21:8 is blunt:

“But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Church, let me say this plainly: deceit isn’t just a bad choice; it’s a ticket to Hell. God is holy, and He cannot tolerate sin. If we live in deceit, we’re separating ourselves from Him—not just in this life, but for eternity.

You might say, “But I only told a little lie,” or “It was just a harmless scam.” Let me remind you of this: Sin doesn’t come in sizes. To a holy God, all sin—big or small—is rebellion against Him.

There’s Hope in Repentance

Now, here’s the good news: God doesn’t want anyone to perish. 1 John 1:9 gives us this promise:

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

No matter how deep into deceit you’ve fallen, God’s grace is deeper. But don’t mistake His grace as permission to keep lying or deceiving. True repentance means turning away from deceit and walking in truth. Proverbs 28:13 says,

“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

God’s mercy is available, but it requires humility and honesty.

Living in Truth Brings Freedom

When you let go of deceit and live in truth, something amazing happens—you find freedom. Jesus said in John 8:32,

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Lies trap us. They create webs of confusion and fear. But truth? Truth sets us free. Free to live with integrity, free to build trust, free to walk in the light of God’s presence.

Choose Truth Today

Church, the choice is clear: Will you live in deceit, or will you walk in truth? Will you gamble with eternity, or will you confess, repent, and receive God’s forgiveness?

Let’s remember this: Every lie, every scam, every act of deceit is seen by God, and He will bring it into the light. But if we humble ourselves, confess our sins, and turn to Him, He is faithful to forgive.

Let’s pray

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your truth that shines light into our darkness. Forgive us for the times we’ve chosen deceit over honesty, selfishness over integrity, and sin over obedience. Help us to walk in the light, Lord, and to be people who speak truth, live truth, and love truth. Father, we ask for Your strength to resist the temptation to deceive, no matter how small or convenient it seems. Convict our hearts when we stray, and lead us back to You with humble repentance. We thank You for Your mercy, Lord, and we trust in Your promise to forgive and restore us. Help us to be a light to others, reflecting Your truth and love in everything we do. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.