Two people lie to God and want to appear like super-Christians to those around them, without changing on the inside. God judges quickly and decisively, and it cost them their lives. What might this have to say to us today and where is the good news of the gospel?
The brand-new people of God were so focused on the risen Jesus, on being forgiven and on showing love to all in need that they were happy to sell off whatever they didn’t need to bring support to others. We don’t know what was happening inside Ananias and Sapphira, what secret fears, worries or feelings of inadequacies were driving them, but they lied to the Holy Spirit, when they sold some land, and gave the money to the apostles. They claimed to give the whole lot, but they weren’t. Their lies had fatal consequences. Their very public deaths led to an even greater respect for the work of God.
In the Garden of Eden, Satan appeared, and tricked Adam and Eve. God allowed that to play out, with the long-term view of committing to go the long slow road of Jesus becoming one of us, to reverse the impact of sin.
Now, in the brand-new church after Pentecost, when Satan has twisted up Ananias and Sapphira to lie to the Holy Spirit, and pretend they were giving everything, God acts decisively. The brand-new church won’t be ruined at the beginning by lies and pretending. God stops them dead in their tracks (literally). There won’t be a compromised message going out to the world.
On either side of this sobering reminder, the Book of Acts tells of great joy and growth in the church. That great joy and growth is there for us as well, as we learn to trust God whole-heartedly. God is always a God who is slow to anger, swift to forgive and bless. We are called to be people of integrity. We don’t always get that right, but we are called to let mercy, grace and forgiveness do their powerful work deep inside us, working their changes in any places of fear or shame inside us.
Be as real as you can, with yourself, and with God. When you can’t or don’t want to change, put that into a prayer, and then ask for help. And trust that our God never wastes anything. Getting something wrong can be a very quick way to learn. It’s not easy or painless, but it is good.
Finally, remember that we can’t change ourselves by sheer willpower. That just makes things worse. We need a deeper love to come in and replace our thoughts and feelings that push us into ways that don’t work or don’t honour God. Real change takes grace, it will need the support of others, and usually it takes time. Keep trusting God at work in you.
