Truth is like oil in water, no matter how much oil you add to depress it; the oil will always float to the top!
We can say something isn’t true all we want, we can try to make it a lie, but truth is truth no matter how many say it is a lie. You can never change the truth! It cannot be undone!
Winston Churchill once famously said, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”
Pardon the pun but, truer words were never spoken!
Why do we love to embellish the truth? Why have we capitalized so much on the “little white lie”?
We have even justified ourselves by the telling of the “white lie”, which has been around since at least the 1700’s! The term “white lie” has a feeling of innocence and purity, meaning it is not a darker or evil lie.
For instance, we might feel we are protecting someone’s feelings by telling a “white lie”.
“Honey, does this dress make me look fat?” “Well of course not, dear!” When in reality it is two sizes too small for your beloved but you value your marriage and want to eat at the dining room table and sleep in your own bed for the next two weeks.
That, was a “white lie”.
“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth…” Psalm 86:11 ESV.
But the telling of little “white lies” can lead to other lies. It becomes easier to slip them into our conversation. We don’t think about it so much anymore if we are not careful. And even worse, our children hear us and they do not understand the difference.
Austin O’ Malley said, “Those who think it is permissible to tell white lies soon grow color-blind.”
The devil is the liar and the Bible says he is the father of lies. “He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44.
There is no truth in him!
But the Lord desires truth in our lives and in our hearts, to show forth in everything we do…and say!
“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” Psalm 51:6 NKJV.
He will make us to know wisdom! The New Living Translation said “…you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom, even there.” From the beginning He was teaching us, molding us, making us to know wisdom. Putting His truth in our hearts!
This truth is built on the foundation of the Word of God but the doctrines of men change with every generation.
We must be settled with what we believe and never waiver. “Buy the truth and sell it not”, the Word says.
Others are watching our lives and we want to emulate Jesus Christ every day, ALL DAY!
This scripture in Ephesians 4:15 completes our thought beautifully: “But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ…”
Now look at it in this version, the exact same text only expounded just a bit! (Emphasis is mine.)
“Rather, let our lives lovingly express truth (in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly). Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, (even) Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).” Ephesians 4:15 Amplified New Testament.
Enfolded in love! Let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him…friends, it is so plain, it is so beautiful and we make it so difficult.
Jesus is waiting for us to be enfolded in His love…
Let us grow up…
Feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts on “little white lies”!! This is community!
And remember to pray for us here in Latvia! Tonight begins the leadership part of the 2nd Annual General Conference. We have missionaries arriving from Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Norway and the United States, all coming to Riga to help support this conference. We appreciate your prayers for a mighty outpouring of the spirit here in this beautiful country. If you have missed previous posts you can read them here and here! God bless!
Sharing with Make My Saturday Sweet, Fun Friday
I don’t agree with the telling of little white lies or big black lies either, because God sees them all as “lies”. My dad always said it well, “If a man will lie to you, he will also steal from you.” I knew someone extremely well for several years that was a chronic lier, lies came easier than the truth did. His sister was the same way. It’s sad when people find it easier to lie than to tell the truth.
A very good post, my friend.
Cindy
I loved your quotes, especially the one about getting its pants on and the other one about going color-blind. My brother loved telling the truth in a mean way and he would back it up with, “The truth hurts.” But, later I wizened up and realized that truth spoken in love is pure truth, but the other kind is also from the devil. Thankfully, he has been redeemed since those days and has a good dose of God’s love in his life. Thanks for linking on Amanda’s Books and More!
“Honey, does this dress make me look fat?” Got a giggle from me on this post!!
So truthful though. Thank you dear friend.
God Bless you and The Sweetheart.
Yes, even white lies are sin and fall short of the glory of God. And you are right, man sure likes to change “truth”. 🙂 Happy FMF!!
As a reformed habitual liar, its a hard journey to travel to overcome but the we don’t travel it alone. Thank God for His truth. We are all guilty though, Romans 3:23. but it doesn’t end there! My reflection was on this very thing.
I second that emotion! 🙂 You have said so many good things! I have been guilty myself, should have said that in my post too! Thankful for His mercy as you said. Thank you so much for stopping by!! ♥
A lie by any other name is still a lie! 🙂 I guess that sums up my thoughts on a little white lie. Sadly, I know a few people that are habitual liars and they have done it so long that they don’t even realize they are lying! And then there are those that embellish. And I pray for those people, that they may know the truth and be set free. But when the rubber meets the road, it’s all lies and the devil IS the father of lies. I’m sure we’ve all accidentally lied from time to time, not even realizing it. Thank God for his mercy, grace and forgiveness. Great post!