Just This Once?

"It is easy to tell a lie but hard to tell only one." ~ Sissela Bok, Lying

What a true statement. How easy is it for us to justify "white lies" by saying, "Just this once because I am afraid of what might happen" or "Just this once because I do not want to look bad"? The problem is that once we tell one lie (which is already pretty easy) it is a little easier to tell the next lie and then the next lie, so on and so forth. Soon our attitude snowballs and it is nearly impossible to stop.

Why do we lie? I would argue that we lie either our of fear or pride--fear of some type of consequence or pride in thinking that we deserve something be it an object or glory.

Fortunately the gospel offers a remedy. First, we are united to Christ and Christ is the truth (John 14:6). When you are united to the Truth and have His fullness that gives you "grace upon grace" it is impossible not to be changed by it. Second, when the King of the universe has set His intensive love upon you fear is driven out and pride is destroyed. How can we be prideful when we know who we are before God and what He had to do to bring us back to Him? How can we be afraid when the God of the universe has set His love upon us and promised to be with us always? This, of course, does not mean that the moment we become Christians we stop lying, not at all. I believe that successes and failures directly relate to how much or little we really believe the truth of the gospel. Some days it is in our hearts and in our minds and we can easily say, "I do not need to lie about this." Other days our belief falters and likewise go our actions. This is why Jonathan Edwards said, "The key to the Christian life is letting the gospel work its way down into our lives both rationally and experientially." Fortunately on all days we can always come to our Father and know that nothing can be done to make Him love us any more or any less. His love is constantly and infinitely intensive on His children.

By His Grace,
Taylor