I want to embrace a truth-filled life. I desire to live beyond lies and tap into the abundant life God has for me. How do we do this?

“Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit?” Acts 5:3

Sometimes we read stories in the Bible and think…how could they?

How was Eve so deceived in the garden?

How did King David have an affair with Bathsheba and then have her husband killed?

How did Peter deny Jesus three times when he promised Him he never would?

How did Ananias and Sapphira think they would get away with keeping some of the money for themselves?

In every one of these situations… they believed the lies. They bought into the enemy’s deception and schemes and were misled into thinking they had it right. It’s not difficult to do- each of us as sinners has done things we are ashamed of today, but looking back it seemed so right.

We deserved it. We earned it. We did it. We justified it.

But oh, were we wrong. We soon find out that deception is enticing and the craftiness of Satan so believable. Damage and even death await when we get on board with sin and buy into the lies.

2 Corinthians 11:14, tells us that Satan masquerades as an angel of light. And because the temptations seem so shiny, beneficial, and good we take the bait. We jump in the boat with disaster and link arms with deceit.

Ananias and his wife Sapphira sold a piece of property, held back a portion for themselves, but told the church they gave them the full amount. Their sin wasn’t holding back money for themselves, their sin was lying about what they were doing. As a result, they both died instantly.

Sound harsh? Yes, it is. But God wants us to understand the severity of deception and the importance of living beyond lies. He wants us to embrace a truth-filled life.

We can be aware of the enemy’s schemes to trip us up and rip us off by remembering he is on the prowl waiting for who he will devour next. (1 Peter 5:8) Let us not fall prey to sinister strategies.

We can stay close to God by reading his word and abiding in Him. Let’s identify, reject, and replace the falsehoods staring us in the face with truth so we can live abundant lives beyond the lies.