LITTLE WHITE LIES
"...For His compassions never fail."  Lam. 3:22b

     One morning while driving to the Bible class I was attending, I heard the Lord speak to me, saying, "I do not want you to tell one more little white lie.  You have told thousands of them."

     I was so startled I had to pull over to the side of the road, and I began to cry.  God was showing me that this deceitful habit was no trivial matter, and, that there was no such thing as big or little sins, venial or mortal.  The Lord made me see my sinful habit for what it was---lying!

     The first time I read the Bible I became very upset over quite a few passages.  In fact, there were times when I was downright angry.

 
     For instance, while reading Revelations 21:8, I was in total shock.   All sin was lumped together in one sentence.

            But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice

            magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--- their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.  This is

            the second death.

     In my first encounter with religion, the catechism book my husband's aunt gave to me to study explained that there were two kinds of sin: mortal and venial.  Venial sins were not too serious; such as 'little white lies' and etc., while mortal sins involved adultery, murder, or attending another church; serious offences like that.

     So you can imagine my shock to find "all liars" included in this line-up headed for hell.  Since I had the habit of telling little white lies for as long as I can remember, I saw nothing wrong with it.  After all, I reasoned, it was better to lie that tell the truth and hurt someone's feelings.  Or, if I wanted to avoid talking to a certain person on the telephone, I would instruct the children to say I wasn't home, or, taking a bath.  I found it quite easy to think of suitable excuses.

     As I think back on this deceitful habit, I am embarrassed.  Besides, look what I taught my children.  What an awful example I set.

     Then, later on, when I accepted Jesus as Lord of my life, I asked Him to change me.  I knew this was quite an extensive request, and I believe God took me at my word, because, very soon things began happening.

     I cried out to the Lord, exclaiming, "Oh Lord, I repent of my lying!   Please forgive me and help me become truthful in all my replies."
 

     I realized I could not change without God's help, so I prayed for God to remind me every time I was about to tell another lie.  Certainly, victory over sinful habits is not achieved overnight, and I must admit I have fallen
back into my old responses from time to time.

     Just recently someone asked if they could borrow twenty dollars and I quickly said,  "I don't have twenty dollars."  Immediately I realized I had lied just to avoid loaning that person the money.  I felt ashamed, and
wondered if I would every really change my ways.
 

     However, gradually, with God's help and my determination to change,  I am overcoming this habit of telling little white lies.  Isn't it wonderful that God loves us in spite of all our stumbling?

     I remain hopeful because God's compassions never fail; they are new every morning.