Who Will You Listen Too?

The other day I was enjoying reading back and forth with Randol this cute little book, when much to my surprise the main character lied in plain black and white ink-I was shocked.

I digress, I recently found out that the 3rd book in every American Girl series is a Christmas story all about how the holiday's were celebrated in that time period. I figured that reading those books would be a fun way to do some research and see how our traditions have evolved over time. Randol LOVES anything American Girl, even though the only thing she owns by them, is their free magazine she gets in the mail periodically. The clouds parted and heaven shown down, as my boys both napped at the same time for the first time in like forever.

We were snuggled up on the couch reading this cute story about Kirsten and how her and her Daddy were stuck in a horrible snow storm that threatens their lives. (Real action packed you know). They start to think they are lost when Kirsten sees a big tree and realizes that the cave she sneaks off too, to see her secret Indian friend, is close by. After getting warm in the cave, her Father looks at her and says, "How did you know there was a cave here?" It then goes on to say that Kirsten didn't want to tell her dad about her secret Indian friend or how she sneaks away to play with Singing Bird without her parents knowing, so she tells her dad that she wandered off one day walking along the stream and that's how she found it. Her father then goes on to praise her for being a little explorer, but tells her not to wander off again. The chapter ends with her being rewarded with a piece of candy.

I looked at Randol and asked her what Kirsten did wrong. I was thankful to hear that Randol recognized that Kirsten lied to her father, but my head fell when she added, "But it was her secret friend, maybe her and the Indian promised each other they wouldn't tell anyone about their friendship." Then we had this long discussion about how a lie is a lie...blah, blah, blah. You know the conversation.

Later that night, I was telling Wesley about it to see what he thought. He handed me a section of our local newspaper. On the side column it was titled "Lying is American as apple pie". The small article was all about how lying is apart of our society and how everyone lies and its OK. These were two examples in one day that really opened both of our eyes to just how much satan has unsuspectingly dug his nasty head into society's way of thinking.

And we wonder why there are so many problems in our country! It really got me thinking about all the lies I have told in my life. I lied all the time to my parents when I was in high school (sorry mom and dad!) with a straight face and didn't blink an eye or think twice about it. It was those lies that got me into situations that I shouldn't have been in and left many long term consequences, some of which I still pay today. Something so small can turn into something so big. Isn't that how satan works though? He whispers these small things into our ears and we find ourselves agreeing with him. From the beginning of time he's worked this way, telling Eve, "You will surely not die!" (Gen. 3:3) and then goes on to tell her all the things she's missing out on by not eating from that one tree as she stands in a garden full of trees.

"It's OK, no one will ever find out!"
"Just one time won't hurt"
"Look at what she did, you're way better than her!" and makes us focus on others sins and not our own.

All of these little mind games he tells us, to try to reason our sin.
"You deserve to buy that new car" (even though you can't afford it.)
"It's OK to look, as long as you don't touch"-HA! How many affairs start by people "just looking"?
"Your husband will never know if you buy that! It's what you want, you deserve it!" (only now you will have to lie even more to cover up what you got).

On and on I could go...but what we tend to forget, is what man doesn't know-God does. We can't hide from Him or cover up anything. If we could, why would He have sent His son to die for all of those "little, petty sins"?

The REAL truth of the matter is that we WILL be held accountable on that day of judgement. A sin, is a sin in Gods eyes. He doesn't "classify" sin by saying one is greater than the other. One of the ten commandments clearly states, "Do not lie". It doesn't say, "It's OK to lie about this, but not about that". It says, "Do not lie"-plain and simple, clear as day. No questions asked.

As children, most of us had parents or grandparents or maybe a Sunday School teacher to teach us right from wrong. As a child, I knew when I got caught doing something wrong, my parents were going to punish me. As adults, who is there to hold us accountable? The law of course, but I don't see a policeman outside the doorstep of everyone who tells a lie. It would be impossible to have the manpower to keep up with such a job!

It is the Lord who holds us accountable through His Word and our conscience. The Holy Spirit whispers in your mind, "No, Back Away! Danger! It's not worth it!" That is the voice of God Himself who is telling you that. You have a choice, who are you going to listen too? Don't let satan take your heart captive over something so stupid and so selfish. It's just not worth it!

Stay in the Word, continue to seek His face and His guidance and let Him lead you. He will never trick you, never lead you astray or never let you down. Stay in His shadow and you will be blessed more than you can ever imagine.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust."

Surely He will save you from the fowler's snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

He will cover you with His feathers

and under His wings you will find refuge;

His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

~Psalm 91:1-4