Let us study this gigantic proposition from another view-point: every unregenerated heart is full of deceit. In every unregenerated heart there is a germ of all the sins of the Decalogue; lying is one of the “shall nots.” A close student of men will agree with the Apostle Paul, when he said: “I have no confidence in the flesh.” Carnality will not swear against its own interests; the status of civilization, whether in religion or morals, does not seem to control this matter. When we consider the falsehood and false swearing which obtain among the best people, socially, financially, and so often religiously, then think of the millions living without moral standards, we can begin to appreciate the amount of lying carried on in this world.
As lying is one of the outputs of carnality, and human selfishness is the tap root of carnality, and selfishness dominates the entire race, with rare exceptions here and there, we can understand how easily and naturally prevarication and lying become efficient tools to further personal interests. We once attended a celebrated criminal case in court; scores of witnesses were summoned on both sides; a bar of attorneys fought desperately every inch of ground. The prosecution covered the case beyond any question to the perfect satisfaction of the jury. And the witnesses were, in the main, both respectable and intelligent.
But behold, when the defense produced their side of the case, the witnesses equally honest looking and intelligent, every point of evidence made by the prosecution was absolutely refuted. A new story was told; a new case from the one just stated. Think of it—on both sides there were eye-witnesses; then every witness on one side or the other perjured themselves—and perhaps all of them on both sides.
So completely has the father of liars woven the spirit of falsehood into the moral fibre of men that a sense of its fearful character is almost obliterated. Men make fortunes, secure positions, are elected to office, destroy rivals, win unsuspecting love, seduce innocence, and subdue kingdoms, by being an obedient offspring of their father, inheriting his disposition and ability to breathe out falsehood. Liars are children of the Devil.
Think of the almost infinite resources for evil: “father of liars” does not fully justify the situation. While it is true he originated the first lie, and the lying spirit has ever widened through the stream of racial propagation; but the clearer interpretation signifies that he is the father of lies. “See,” he whispers, “the advantages to be gained—don’t be white livered—tell it; get the hush money—make the promise—swear you did not see it—tell her how devotedly you love her, etc.” Who has not met these insidious pulls on the conscience?
Yes, but he is only acting now as a tempter. Quite true; but when the will gives away, the oath, the promise, the false statement is made under a furious lashing of the conscience. The lie belongs to him; he originated—suggested—formulated it; then literally drew it out with quite as much pain as is felt during the extraction of a tooth by a dentist.
It has been said: “The Devil will leave his own brat on your door-step, then accuse you of being its father.” This is an inelegant, though a striking statement of a great truth. When he is unable to bring forth—deliver, etc.—his own conception, he at once charges us of being guilty of the thing conceived: the lie, vile imagination, or whatever it may be, quoting Scripture to prove it: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” “Now,” he declares, “you are guilty anyhow; why not enjoy the benefits?” Father of lies; millions of them spawned every day and hour: big lies, little lies, business lies, social lies, political lies, and not a few—religious lies, black lies, white lies, church lies.