"Whoever Loves and Practices a Lie"

The sixth and final category of those mentioned as being outside the gates of Heaven in Revelation 22:15 consists of those who love and practice a lie. It's interesting that we find this description at the end of the list just as we find "and all liars" at the end of the list in Revelation 21:8. That list included eight descriptions, five of which are repeated here. At first glance, the word liars seems easy enough to comprehend\

In a survey done about twenty years ago, 90% of the population admitted to lying on a daily basis\

Satan is the father of the lie, Jesus rightly claimed (John 8:44). He introduced lying to human beings (Gen. 3:4-5). He continues to be influential through his myriad false teachers. Warnings in the New Testament abound (Matt. 16:12; Acts 20:28-31; 1 Tim. 4:16). How many religious groups are proclaiming lies each Sunday and daily on television? Some know they are not telling the truth; others are honestly mistaken, but in either case, they are not speaking the truth as taught in the Scriptures.

Maybe the worse thing is lying to ourselves. Years ago, a particular woman cheated on her husband, and he divorced her. Ten years later she was telling everyone that he was the one who cheated, and she was innocent. "I'm a preacher's daughter. I would have never done anything wrong." Well, who can say for sure? We may all find out on the Day of Judgment. The point is this: If she was guilty, she had convinced herself she had not done anything wrong. Self-deceit will prove deadly. Most people refuse to accept they are guilty of wrongdoing. "This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, 'I have done no wickedness'" (Pr. 30:20). All Christians must be careful that we do not lie to ourselves\