Genesis 20
The Bible is not quiet in revealing the true nature of its heroes. We see Abraham, the great man of faith, as he walks up the mountain with Isaac, but we also see Abraham, the liar, as he stands before Abimelech. Abraham had a serious character flaw. He was a liar. He shaded the truth to save his neck in a difficult situation. The problem with telling "little white lies" is that we soon grow color-blind to them. What the world needs more are truth speakers. It's a concept widely acknowledged but seldom practiced.
One of the famous quotes at Grace Church is from Erik V. who worked in NYC for years. He said, "To distinguish yourself in the city, you only have to do one thing: tell the truth."
Jerald Jellison wrote in a USA Today article, "Each of us fibs at least 50 times a day." He explained that we lie about our age, our income, or our accomplishments. And we use lies to escape embarrassment. A common reason for "little white lies," we're told, is to protect someone else's feelings. Yet in so doing, we are really protecting ourselves.
God has set a radically different standard for us. He told us clearly not to make any false statements but to only speak the truth. That is a pretty high standard. It is easy, even convenient to lie. Just ask Abraham. But when we speak lies and deceptions to each other we are destroying the very fabric of our relationships. We live in a time of unprecedented lying. From politics to families, lying words impact us all. So today distinguish yourself, with God's help, by telling the truth in all situations.
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