"I got the camera bag for fifty dollars," says Will.
"But that's so much!" replied Melissa.
"Don't worry, we'll use it well," rebutted Will.
It was at that point that Will casually bent over to pick up the garbage, when the receipt for the camera bag stuck out of his back pocket. In an instant, Melissa grabbed the receipt. She curiously read what was written and exclaimed: "Liar!"
"What the, huh?" floundered Will.
"You said the camera bag was fifty dollars," said Melissa. "Why then does the receipt say that it was 80 dollars?"
Will, like a child caught with his hand in the piggy bank, could only somberly reply: "I lied"
All lies are bad.
To think that white lies, small lies, or half-truths are okay is a lie in itself. The enemy wants us to think that the little sins we commit are inconsequential. He wants us to fail by convincing us that we can flippantly and facetiously ignore our lies. But that does not glorify God. Nor does it progress the gospel in our lives or in others.
There are three things that I've learned from this true incident.
1. Lies, no matter what, do not build up the faith of our Christian friends.
"But that's so much!" replied Melissa.
"Don't worry, we'll use it well," rebutted Will.
It was at that point that Will casually bent over to pick up the garbage, when the receipt for the camera bag stuck out of his back pocket. In an instant, Melissa grabbed the receipt. She curiously read what was written and exclaimed: "Liar!"
"What the, huh?" floundered Will.
"You said the camera bag was fifty dollars," said Melissa. "Why then does the receipt say that it was 80 dollars?"
Will, like a child caught with his hand in the piggy bank, could only somberly reply: "I lied"
All lies are bad.
To think that white lies, small lies, or half-truths are okay is a lie in itself. The enemy wants us to think that the little sins we commit are inconsequential. He wants us to fail by convincing us that we can flippantly and facetiously ignore our lies. But that does not glorify God. Nor does it progress the gospel in our lives or in others.
There are three things that I've learned from this true incident.
1. Lies, no matter what, do not build up the faith of our Christian friends.
By lying, we undermine the earnestness of praying for the one we lied to. By lying, we essentially sin against a brother/sister; and if the lie persists, we sin also by not promoting their Christ-likeness, whereby we deny them the ability to forgive us of our lie (Matthew 18:25).
2. Lies, no matter what, do not build up our own faith.
By lying, we show that we do not have the integrity in our hearts to share in the Ultimate Truth, which is the gospel (1 John 2:21).
2. Lies, no matter what, do not build up our own faith.
By lying, we show that we do not have the integrity in our hearts to share in the Ultimate Truth, which is the gospel (1 John 2:21).
3. Lies, no matter what, do not glorify God.
God wants us to be pure so that we can glorify God (Philippians 4:8; Titus 1:15). No one can glorify God if he/she is not cleansed by the blood of Jesus. Lies prevent us from worshiping God.
In the North American worldview, lies don't seem to be as major as murder. But if we truly understood the glory of God, then it is clear that all sins are equally devastating to our souls.
Why? Because the mode of all sin is to "de-god" God. In other words, the mode of sin is our very natures. Our natures are inclined to sin, as it is evident through our acts of sin. And when we are inclined to sin, then we "de-god" God and "Godify" our sinful nature. This, for obvious reasons, offends God. No glory should be given to anyone but God.
Why? Because the mode of all sin is to "de-god" God. In other words, the mode of sin is our very natures. Our natures are inclined to sin, as it is evident through our acts of sin. And when we are inclined to sin, then we "de-god" God and "Godify" our sinful nature. This, for obvious reasons, offends God. No glory should be given to anyone but God.
"Lord, we need help.
We are intrinsically God-defying and sinful.
Our lies testify to our inability to worship You.
Lead us to your mercy.
Forgive us.
And may we be transformed by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.
And on that claim, and that claim alone, do we cry:
'Abba, Father,
Holy is the Lord,
Most worthy of praise!'"
We are intrinsically God-defying and sinful.
Our lies testify to our inability to worship You.
Lead us to your mercy.
Forgive us.
And may we be transformed by the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.
And on that claim, and that claim alone, do we cry:
'Abba, Father,
Holy is the Lord,
Most worthy of praise!'"
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