The prophet Isaiah spoke out against lies about God. He could do this because God had shown His glory to Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-4).
I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up… And one [angel] called to another and said: ”Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:1,3).
God is “holy”—so pure that He is far above all that is wrong or false. God’s eyes are too pure “to see evil and cannot look at wrong” (Habakkuk 1:13). Seeing God’s power and purity, Isaiah realized that he and his people would be destroyed (Isaiah 6:5). Isaiah himself stayed alive there only because God acted quickly to save him, taking his sins away (Isaiah 6:7). Only those whom God makes holy can live with Him.
Strive [work] for… the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
All of us fall short of God’s holiness and glory (Romans 3:10,23). So many tell lies, live lies, and follow lies that the Bible now calls Satan “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4).
The whole world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19).
All who love worldly things above God make themselves enemies of God (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15). Thus most people—whether they realize it or not—are on Satan’s side and must share the defeat and punishment that God plans for all His enemies.
That is why Jesus warns us:
Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few (Matthew 7:13-14).
How foolish to think that we cannot be among the “many” on the wide road to ruin! How foolish to think that we will enter that small gate by chance or by accident! There must be “every effort,” that is, serious seeking for God’s way:
Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able (Luke 13:24).
Strive for… the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14).
This explains why the Bereans eagerly searched the Scriptures every day to learn God’s truth (Acts 17:11). We too should seek God’s way to holiness just as seriously. For God has spoken, showing that each of us must answer to Him, the Judge over all creation.
Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment (Hebrews 9:27).
Let’s Sum Up
The book of Hebrews sums up this subject best:
Our God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29; quoting Deuteronomy 4:24).
ERV: Because our God is like a fire that can destroy.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:30-31).
God cannot stand lies, for He is completely honest, pure and holy. God’s majesty rejects all false worship. False worship and service ends up going to demons. God’s firm justice cannot let rebellion go on unpunished. He has spoken clearly of His anger. He has given warning that there will be final and full judgment against all His enemies. That is not an empty threat. It is time for us to take the coming judgment very seriously.
Almighty God and Judge of all, You have every right to be angry when we choose to follow your enemies. Teach us to have healthy fear of your just anger. Help us to respect You, to believe your warnings, and to find your “narrow door” that leads to life…