Does It Really Matter

 

Is there such a thing as a little, white lie?  Of course, there is, but the question should be, “Is it the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”  If the answer is no, then I guess it must be a lie any way you look at it. 

Where does a person draw the line where honesty is concerned, or a more sobering question, “Where does God draw the line?”  Does He wink at white lies and look the other way?  Does He overlook it like it does not matter?

One thing is constant and sure, God is holy.  He is perfect in all ways as was His Son Jesus when He walked the earth.  I believe that God expects us to strive for perfection, because the moment we sin, we may be taking a step away from a holy God.

My desire is to draw as close to God as I can, but I am not naïve to think that I have reached the pinnacle of perfection.  I do not think there is a day that goes by that I do not call out to the Lord for help and forgiveness for my folly.  I feel like a child at times that misbehaves and needs to be reconciled with their earthly father or mother.

The Holy Spirit makes me aware of my reckless behavior by convicting me when I step out of line.  He makes me cognizance of my shortcomings.  God desires that I mature and repent, thus, being reconciled to Him, our Heavenly Father.  I do not want to crucify Christ afresh and put Him to an open shame by sinning.

(Hebrews 6:4-6) “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,” Vs. 5 “and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come,” Vs. 6 “if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.”

The Holy Spirit reminds me of my responsibility as a child of God to let the light of Christ shine brightly before others that they can see the glory of God in me.  It is only by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, that those around me can be touched for the cause of Christ.  My righteousness is as filthy rags, but God forgives sin when we ask Him to do so.

(Isaiah 64:6) “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousness’s are like filthy rage; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

(1 John 1:9) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

The above scripture is God’s promise to us.  Without forgiveness, no one can see God, because sin is enmity to Him.  He hates sin of any kind, because sin is sin; there is no in-between areas acceptable to Him.  It is like a pregnant woman—she is, or she is not. 

The fact of the matter is this; yes, God hates sin, but He loves the sinner so much that He gave His only Son to die on a cross for the salvation of mankind.  Jesus paid the full price for our redemption when He willingly died for our sins.  Though we misbehave, we can be reconciled with Father God when we confess our sins.  He forgives us, because of Jesus.

This manifestation of love is called grace.  God is merciful and wants us to be with Him in heaven.  God’s grace is sufficient for everything we face in life.  He is our strength and high tower.  In Him we are made complete. 

No longer do we have the stigma of sin buffeting us each day, because they have been thrown into God’s sea-of-forgetfulness…never to remember them against us again.  This is how Christians walk in peace—it is the peace of God that passes all understanding.

God’s ways are far beyond our ways and higher than any intellectual personality.  Natural thinking measures lies on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being a downright, dirty lie and 1 being a tiny, trivial, white lie.  But remember, it is impossible for God to lie at any degree or level on the “honesty scale.”

Each promise in the Bible that God and Jesus declared to people like you and me is truth and nothing but the truth.  None of them are little, white lies.  If God said it, He will do it!  We need not fret and lose hope if the answer is not immediate?  Giving God a chance to work out the situation is key.  Discouragement, giving up is the lack of faith.  Maintaining proper focus on Him and not the problem is called faith.

(Hebrews 11:1) “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

It is the ability of our finite mind to trust the honesty of God.  He is infinite…limitless in power and love.  It is just impossible for our Heavenly Father to lie to His children.  It will not happen.  We can believe with confidence, knowing that God is touched by the feelings of our infirmities.  We can call upon Him and trust that He has all things in His control.  We can walk in peace because you and I matter to Him.

(Philippians 4:6,7) “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;” Vs 7 “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The next time I am tempted to tell a little, white lie, I will ask myself, “What would Jesus do?”  No doubt this will give the answer.  Little, white lies matter to God.  Though He may frown on the times we slip and fall, yet He forgives our trespasses when we ask Him to do so.

God does not take pleasure in chastising us, but when necessary, in love He will do what is needed to get our attention to help us become more like Jesus.  His way of helping us grow spiritually is not like some parents raising their children, “Do as I say, not as I do.” 

The kindness of the Lord leads us to repentance, which allows reconciliation that removes the fear of punishment.  We again feel the tender embrace of compassion from Father God.  Once more we are reminded that He loves us with a never-ending love.

The Lord encourages repentance, which helps us grow in grace, rather than allowing us to continue practicing bad habits.  It matters to God, which path we travel.  He is perfecting us in the image of Christ with the help of the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truth.

(Proverbs 3:11,12) “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor detest His correction;” Vs. 12 “For whom the Lord loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights.”

My example of telling a white lie is only a clumsy way in trying to encourage you to be mindful of how to keep an open communication with God.  When we endeavor to please Him and put aside questionable situations and attitudes, it negates the chance of a rift developing between He and us.

We will walk in newness of life and experience the blessings of Almighty God.  When we draw nigh to Him, He draws nigh to us.  It is like taking one step toward Him, while He is taking two toward us.

Does it really matter how we live our life?  Yes, it matters to God, even when we tell little, white lies.

Written by,

Papa Boyd