Lost In the Prairies.....Found by God

 

I'm sure you've all figure out that Mark 17 doesn't exist and are having a good laugh. But, how many of us have raised our hand, when we knew we shouldn't just so we didn't look silly.

This week, we've had a few discussions regarding lying in our home. Last week my daughter cut her and her brother's hair. When questioned, she didn't lie, she came right out and exclaimed "I cut Thomas and my hair!" I was furious but she told the truth so her consequences weren't that severe (she did lose her scissor privilege for the week). I praised her that evening for telling me the truth and not lying to me. My best friend's daughter was involved in a similar incident 4 years ago and it took her a year to tell the truth.

This weekend we took my daughter's best friend camping with us. I overheard many of their conversations (6 year olds think they have all the answers). At one point the friend told my daughter that little lies were OK. I talked to my daughter later about this and reiterated that lying is not OK. I told Nic that the one sin God doesn't like is lying. In fact he hates it soooooo much that a couple who lied, where struck dead! She was shocked. Have you heard the story:

Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife's full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles' feet. Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then the young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, "Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?" "Yes," she said, "that is the price."
Peter said to her, "How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also."
At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. Acts 5:1-11 (NIV)

Wow. Just for lying about the amount of money he was giving God. God never asked Ananais for the money. Ananais was giving the money to God, but decided to lie about the amount. If he had just told the truth and said he was giving a portion and not all who knows what would have happened. How many of us have cheated on our taxes or said we tithe our full 10%, on our gross, but actually take it from our net. Same story.

How many times have we each told "little white lies?" I know I have. "Oh I'm sorry I was feeding the baby and couldn't reach the phone. " The phone had been on he nursing pillow and just didn't feel like answering the phone. How many times have we avoided the "truth" or not told the whole story?

Lies hurt. Not just the liar but who we are lying to. Growing up I was lied to consistently by people who should have known better: promises broken; truth surfacing through arguments; and misleading information to make others look better (just to name a few). Trust and respect is hard to get back once lost. How do you trust one who has lied to you throughout your life.

Have you thought about the ramifications of lying?

Luckily we have a God and Saviour who tells the truth. He never lies and is always forgiving if we confess our sins.