Neither Gracious Nor Beautiful
Acts 5:1-6 There was a man named Ananias. His wife’s name was Sapphira. Ananias sold some land he had, but he gave only part of the money to the apostles. He secretly kept some of the money for himself. His wife knew this, and she agreed with it. Peter said, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill your mind with such an idea? You kept part of the money for yourself and lied about it to the Holy Spirit! Before you sold the field, it belonged to you, right? And even after you sold it, you could have used the money any way you wanted. How could you even think of doing such a thing? You lied to God, not to us!” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Some young men came and wrapped his body. They carried it out and buried it. And everyone who heard about this was filled with fear.
According to the World Health Organisation, each year around 1.2 million people globally die in road accidents, with tens of millions more suffering non-fatal injuries.
Back in the early church there was a couple, Ananias and Sapphira, who suffered a fatal accident. Although, it wasn’t really an accident.
Acts 5:1-6 There was a man named Ananias. His wife’s name was Sapphira. Ananias sold some land he had, but he gave only part of the money to the apostles. He secretly kept some of the money for himself. His wife knew this, and she agreed with it. Peter said, “Ananias, why did you let Satan fill your mind with such an idea? You kept part of the money for yourself and lied about it to the Holy Spirit! Before you sold the field, it belonged to you, right? And even after you sold it, you could have used the money any way you wanted. How could you even think of doing such a thing? You lied to God, not to us!” When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. Some young men came and wrapped his body. They carried it out and buried it. And everyone who heard about this was filled with fear.
If you read on, the same fate befalls Sapphira, whose name means “beautiful”. The name Ananias means “God is gracious.” But there was nothing gracious or beautiful in their deceitful behaviour.
Why did God deal with them so harshly when others down through the ages have behaved far worse and lived? I have no idea. But be seriously warned: Yes, God is a God of grace and mercy, but we trample on His forbearance at our own peril.
That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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