2.1. WALKING BY WORLDLINESS
When you engage in lying, or have a desired effect through lying, you are under the authority of Satan, the Spirit that work in those who are “dead in trespasses and sins” and “walk according to the course of this world” (Ephesians 2:1-2). Lying agents indulge in “the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind…” (Ephesians 2:1-3).
And because they are vane in their false imaginations their foolish heart will darken to the truth. Therefore, they will rely on wisdom that is “earthly, sensual and devilish” that does not come from God above. These agents will use worldly wisdom to distort the truth of God’s word to fit their worldly desires, cravings and lifestyles. (James 3:15; Romans 1:21;1 Corinthians 2:6).
Brethren do not indulge in worldly desires for these are spiritually influenced by Satan who is the “prince of the power of the air”. Satan rules the world through ‘principalities’, ‘powers’, ‘the rulers of the darkness of this world’, and ‘spiritual wickedness in high places’. These agents compel in people all kinds of worldly lusts in the “kingdoms of the world, and their glory” for which mankind would indulge in lies. (Ephesians 2:1-3; 6:12; Matthew 4:8-9; John 12:31).
2.2. DENYING THE TRUTH
Satan’s lying agents have no love of the truth. They will deny truth and will refuse to receive or acknowledge the truth that they may be saved from perishing. Such agents are self-willed and strong-willed; and are usually disposed to using “all power and signs and lying wonders” and may use “all deceivableness of unrighteousness” after the working of Satan. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12).
Thus, God sends strong delusions in these agents, that they should believe in lies because the reject “the love of truth” in favour of deceitfulness and unrighteousness. In other words, those who chose the path of lying and deceit as Satan’s agents, are allowed by God to delude themselves to believe in lies. Such people oppose the truth believe not in being truthful no matter the persuasion. They will rather take “pleasure in unrighteousness” and may be damned. (2 Thessalonians 2:8-12).
2.3. ENEMIES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
Brethren beware that lying agents are “full of all subtilty and all mischief; and are “enemies of all righteousness, [who will] not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord”. They are separated from the womb to Satan and go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies (Acts 13:10; Proverbs 13:5; Psalm 58:3). These agents would hold the truth in unrighteousness and in all ungodliness even at the risk of God’s wrath.
For example, lying agents would, although being aware of God’s power over all creation, change its glory by interpreting them as corruptible things and uncleanliness through lusts. They will also seek to change God’s truth to a lie at every opportunity and would prefer to serve Satan the creature in lies more than GOD who is the creator of the universe. (Romans 1:18; 22-32; 1 Timothy 1:10). But note that those who are righteous will love the truth. They will hate all falsehood and will neither take pleasure in lying nor justify it.
2.4. PLEASURE IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
To live by the truth of God is righteousness; whereas, to live by the lies of Satan is unrighteousness. One who claims to know God and love him should therefore not take pleasure in unrighteousness. For instance, Moses was raised in the lies of being the son of Pharaohs daughter in Egypt. But “when he was come to years, [he] refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with [God’s people] than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season”(Hebrew11:24-26)
The symbolism in this story is that, like Moses, once one gains knowledge or revelation of his identity as a child of God among “the people of God”, he can no longer live comfortably in the lies of the devil’s identity; and will forsake all the pleasures or riches that come with it. The knowledge of the truth of one’s identity as a child of the almighty God is greater riches, for which, like Moses, we should be prepared to suffer reproach because we identify with him (Exodus 2:1-15; Acts 14:22)
In other words, one who loves God and his truth should not become comfortable with lying, living in lies or taking pleasure in it. If one professes to know God yet in action you are “abominable”, “disobedient” and a “reprobate” to the good ways of God, you are a liar in Satan’s agency. When you know God’s truth, you must demonstrate it by your deeds and perseverance; you should not tolerate evil and must expose as liars those who claim falsely to be God’s servants who do not represent his truth. (Titus 1:16; Revelation 2:2).
3. RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN LYING AGENCY
