Why can't God lie? If everything is possible for God, why is it impossible for Him to say something that is not true?
God, speaking through His prophet Balaam, describes His integrity in Numbers 23:19.
“God is not a man, that He should lie,
Nor a son of man, that He should repent.
Has He said, and will He not do?
Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
Jesus echoes this same sentiment in John 17:17, when He prays to the Father: “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” Interestingly, Jesus, who is the Word made flesh (John 1:14), also describes Himself as truth (John 14:6) and says that He came to bear witness to the truth (John 18:37). Jesus Christ is the very person of Truth.
Basic, objective truth is a difficult concept for the human mind to comprehend. That’s why Pilate asked, “What is truth?” in John 18:38. Absolute truth is even more complex, but biblical truth goes much further than either of these concepts. God’s truth is more than mere honesty; it carries power. Jesus tells us in John 8:32 that the truth has the power to set us free. But it’s actually a lot more powerful than that.
In Genesis 1:2, there was darkness. You and I might have said “It sure is dark” and thought we were telling the truth. But God spoke, saying “Let there be light” in Genesis 1:3. It didn’t sound true, but He said it anyway, and all of a sudden, there was light. Meditate on that. In the midst of absolute darkness, God said, “Let there be light” and it happened! God’s words were more true than the darkness. And guess what else? This light didn’t come from any of the celestial bodies we associate with light; God didn’t even create the sun, moon, or stars for several more days. God’s word was more true than the laws and theories of astronomy, optics, or physics. The truth of His word made the light happen.
Think about it this way. The reason God cannot lie is not just because He’s sinless and chooses not to engage in lying. The reason God cannot lie is because the power of His words is so great that whatever He speaks becomes truth. His words are the verbal expression of His perfect character and are saturated with the glory of His truth. God’s word is truer than fact, truer than logic, truer than nature, truer than reason, truer than science, and truer than anything else we could ever hope to know. His power-packed word is so true that time, space, and matter have to change and rearrange themselves in pursuit of it and in response to it. God cannot lie because absolutely nothing can defy or withstand the power of His word.
Such a powerful understanding of God’s truth strikes holy reverence into the hearts of men. And the enemy, the father of lies, hates it. Satan wants desperately to deceive you, but his lies are no match for God’s truth. If time, space, and matter cannot withstand God’s word, then neither can doubt or fear, guilt or shame, poverty or lack, or sickness or disease. The next time you face discouragement or impossibility, speak the power-packed words of God’s truth.
When the situation looks impossible, God’s truth says you can do the same things Jesus did and greater (John 14:12), that nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37), that all things are possible to those who believe (Mark 9:23), and that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).
When circumstances say things are working against you, God’s truth says all things work together for your good (Romans 8:28).
When the facts say you are broke, God’s truth says the diligent soul shall be made rich (Proverbs 13:4), that the faithful person will abound with blessings (Proverbs 28:20), that
He supplies all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19), that He teaches you to profit (Isaiah 48:17), that He has pleasure in your prosperity (Psalm 35:27), that His blessing makes you rich and adds no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22), and that He rebukes the devourer for your sake (Malachi 3:11).
When you feel weak, God’s truth says that His joy is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
When the medical experts say you’re sick, God’s truth says he takes all sickness away from you (Deuteronomy 7:15), that He is the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26), and that by His stripes you are healed (Isaiah 53:5).
When you feel mentally overwhelmed, God’s truth says that He has given you a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7) and that you have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
When you feel alone, God’s truth says He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) and that the Holy Spirit dwells with you and is in you (John 14:17).
When things seem dangerous, God’s truth says that He is your refuge and your fortress (Psalm 91:2), that He will deliver you (Psalm 91:3), that destruction will not come near you (Psalm 91:7),that no evil will befall you (Psalm 91:10), that angels will watch over you (Psalm 91:11), and that no weapon formed against you will prosper (Isaiah 54:17).
When the media says the whole world is doomed, God’s truth says Jesus has overcome the world (John 16:33).
When the world says you should be worried, God’s truth says that He has not given you a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7), that you will fear no evil (Psalm 23:4), and that His perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).
When condemnation says you’re unlovable, God’s truth says that nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:39).
Allow God’s powerful truth to replace the poison in your soul. Speak His word in every situation and watch things change and rearrange in response to the power of His matchless truth!