This is quite a story. One that gripped the people with fear. The lesson should not be taken lightly. We cannot hide our faults from God. Second, we should never lie because God knows our heart.
We should never put the Lord our God to a test. What happened to the couple in today’s passage. Death. But why? Deception. They tried to conspire. My question is why? Why couldn’t they just admit they kept some of the received purchase price for their own financial support? Peter said they let Satan fill their hearts. We can be guilty of this, too.
I often refer to Satan as the crafty one. Peter’s words would suggest we can allow Satan in, which would also mean we can keep him out. We heard a great sermon on Sunday about the armor of God beginning (see Ephesians 6:10 and following). There is no better way to keep Satan at bay than to stand on the Word of God and be girded with truth, that which Jesus proclaims. It’s what Jesus showed us.
There was another couple, Adam and Eve, who conspired to hide truth from God. You can find that account in Genesis. While they did not die like Ananias and Sapphira, they were cursed. Their curse was not reserved only for them but for all their descendants, of which we belong. The intrigue with evil began at creation. Why should we think we are immune or different?
We need to take heed of this example and stay strong in the Lord. His mighty power will give us strength. We can be sure that he knows our every thought and every deed. He is omniscient. People have used this truth as an excuse not to pray. While he may know our hearts and minds, he wants our words and actions to be in alignment with what he knows. Our prayer life is our means of building the relationship God desires from us. We can’t fudge it – he’ll know.
We must be honest and open with God, the Almighty who loves us no matter what we’ve done. This is what we should take away from this reading. Our fear or awe of God should encourage us, bless us, and move us closer to him, not keep us away or separate us from his love.
Take some time today to reflect on how you respond to God. Have you ever tried to deceive him in any way?
Let’s pray. Lord forgive me for times I have not been completely honest. If I have hurt anyone, I pray they can forgive me, too. May I always do a truth check before opening my mouth. I rely on your truths and know they set me free. Thank you for redeeming me. May my life reflect you in all I do and say. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
