The Devil Is A Liar

“...he was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar, and the father of lies. John 8:44

The shining one eased his way toward the woman, so far so good, no signs of alarm or apprehension.

A sulfuric hiss, “She's beautiiiifullll.” Black eyes narrowed to a slit, “But not as much as me. No one compares to the Anointed Cherub.”

A questioning whisper engaged her. “Has God really said...?”

Eyes flickered with doubt. Bait taken, hook set, he reeled her in for the kill.

“Easy prey,” he mumbled gleefully.

Staring intently, he studied the man who now pondered his wife's offer. Would he be as gullible? He swooned with the delight as the man ate the fruit. The earth and mankind were now his. “Better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven.”1

How was the devil a murderer from the beginning? A liar, sure – the father of lies, that's a no-brainer.  A murderer, how did he earn that distinction?

Beginning in John 8:44 is the same word used in John 1:1. “In the beginning was the Word.” Before Lucifer was created, God knew he'd rebel. Not a part of some cosmic scheme of intrigue and deception, God's original intent for this now fallen angel was glorious. God knows the end from the beginning and He's always prepared for what happens.

Satan invented the lie – the antithesis of the truth. He can't help himself; it's who he is at his core. Lies are his native tongue. Satan also understands the power of words better than most Christians.

“I killed you with the words of my mouth” Hosea 6:15.

“But that's just God,” you may say “He can do anything.”

Proverbs 18:21 reminds us, “the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Let's look at the first recorded murder to see just how words can kill.

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:17

Adam received explicit dietary instructions. The fruit of one particular tree was off limits. Eating it carried a death sentence. Satan desired to rule the earth. The only thing in his way was man who had dominion over the planet. The solution was straightforward; kill the man and take control. How did Satan do this? He used words - lies.

We know the story. Satan picked the weakest link – Eve, not because she was a woman but because she operated on second hand information. If her response to his question was what Adam had told her, her husband hadn't paid attention to God. Regardless, Eve bought the devil's lie, ate the fruit and promptly handed it to Adam, who stood beside her. He partook also and immediately they both dropped dead – spiritually.

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends; with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” 2 Peter 3:8

God's timetable is very different than ours Peter reminds us. One day to God is equivalent to a thousand of our years. Adam only lived 930 years. So, per God's calculation of time, Adam died the same day he disobeyed. The lie he believed was a deadly as a knife in the heart.

“...he who pours out lies shall perish,” Proverbs 19:9

What goes around comes around. God's law of sowing and reaping never fails. The devil will eventually receive a harvest for the lies he's sown. We should learn from his bad example and monitor the words that come out of our mouths. Will we speak life or death? The choice is ours – choose wisely.

P.S. For all my computer friends, according to Larry Randolph the real reason Adam and Eve fell was this...they ate the Apple and were supposed to be Word (Microsoft) people. I was tempted to put in the Apple logo for a photo insert but decided against it. Thought you'd appreciate the humor.

(Photo from Google Images)

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1    Milton's Paradise Lost