The Kingdom Of God Is Serious

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” [Acts 5.1-4]

As I read this passage again today, I realized just how serious the Kingdom of God is.

I an unsure what Ananias and Sapphira thought they were actually accomplishing in lying about the sale of their piece of land - perhaps it was a pride thing - I just don't know why they lied about it.

The thing is, like Peter said, the land was theirs to sell or not to sell! And, what's more, they were under no compulsion whatsoever to give any or all of the money to the church! But they purposefully lied about their gift. That premeditated lie tainted everything. That premeditated lie, left unaddressed, would infiltrate the Kingdom work taking place! That lie, pretending to be and do something they neither were not nor had not done, could not be allowed. God's holiness could not allow it - and that's why they died without manipulation from any human source.

When I compare the early church with the church today, I cannot help but wonder if we have allowed ourselves to be infiltrated with lies and therefore are very little like the early church in demonstrations of God's power. 

For many, the very fact that they go to church is, in itself a lie - a lie that they are part of something to which they have no claim! Church gatherings are full of people in outright deception of themselves and everyone else that they are part of the Body of Christ when, in fact, they have never experienced redemption. 

The primary evidence of the lack of redemption is the presence of unforgiveness. It is a lie to declare, "I've been forgiven!" and yet not to forgive!

Father, help us to comprehend the seriousness of being truthful toward Your Kingdom.