“Oh what a tangled web we weave,

When first we practice to deceive!”

Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto vi. Stanza 17.

“You have eyes in the back of your head, Mom!” my daughter complained when I caught her in the act of doing something she knew I would not approve of.  She was only a child then, but my kids have many times complained that they could not “get away with anything” and often wondered how it was that I could discover so quickly any of their little acts of rebellion or wrong-doing.  I told them that God answers prayer, particularly my one prayer that He would catch them in their “sin” before they would be irreversibly harmed.  God honoured that prayer through each of my children’s lives as they grew into adulthood, however I discovered that there were still times that God allowed them to wallow awhile in their rebelliousness to teach them valuable life lessons.  He taught them that there are always consequences to sin.

My kids know that one of the worst things they can do is to lie to their father and me.  No matter how much they may try to cover, bend, sway, misdirect, make excuses etc., their lies always seem to come to light, and there are always consequences.  Our family values honesty and all of us know that it is better to admit up to it right away rather than add dishonesty onto it.  Committing a wrong is one thing, lying about it is far worse!  We are all very aware that once caught in a lie, it will take a VERY long time for trust to be restored.  It is one of those consequences we must face when we choose to deceive.

I am convinced that no one can get away with lies and deceit…whether they believe in God or not.

I am amazed that in a world that is so interconnected through the internet and social media that there are still people who think they can “get away” with sin and attempt to cover it up with lies and deceit.  Cases in point: the Ashley Madison scandal, and Josh Duggar’s most recent confession as a result of that.  There is also the discovery of the Subway spokesperson, Jared Fogle possessing child pornography.  Recent marriage breakups by celebrities who have knowledge their spouses were cheating on them.  The Duffy trial here in Canada that has politicians caught in a political web of lies and deception.  If we haven’t figured it out, “Big Brother” is alive and well and watches our every move.

As Christians we are watched by those who want to see if we are indeed the hands and feet of Christ as we claim we are, or are we fakers that show false witness to the world around us.  Oh, we can admit (confess) our sin before God and man but there are always consequences to sin and if the world discovers our falsehood, deception and hypocrisy it will take a VERY long time to regain their trust…if ever.

Sin leads to death.  Repenting and turning from sin leads to life.  (Romans 6:23)  It is hard to admit wrongdoing.  It is hard to say sorry or I was wrong or I messed up.  It is hard to turn from sin and repent but that is needed to know freedom and gain forgiveness and salvation from God.  There are consequences when one sins.  God will not rescue you from those consequences, but He will forgive you and be with you through those consequences.  God sees the heart of a person and He roots out lies and deceit.  You can’t “get away with anything” with God, and for that I am truly thankful.