The Lie That Destroys

Acts 5:1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife’s knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. 6 The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.  7 After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter said to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much.” And she said, “Yes, for so much.” 9 But Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” 10 Immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in they found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard of these things. ESV

MY THOUGHTS
The plain truth is that deception has been around since the foundation of the earth. The liar began at the beginning, there in the midst of perfection, to lobby the minds and the hearts of those first two people to normalize deception.  And mankind learned from the “best worst.”  The Living Bible says it so clearly; “When he [satan] lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars.[John 8:44].  And therein lies the “more” of the fearful and tragic outcome of this story.  Ananias and Sapphira were members of a community of faith.  They cared enough for that community that they were willing to sell their property for its benefit…but they bought the lie!

BEWARE!  We’ve been lied to…too!   We’ve accepted an abnormal “normal” that we’re just holding a little back from God.  That’s the ultimate lie. We’ve been fooled into believing we can give God just enough that it covers up the ultimate lie that we think we’re better than we really are.  The destroyer has found the perfect way to normalize that lie by corrupting the heart and mind of those who’ve been given the Spirit of the Lord.  BEWARE!