The Ripple Effect of a Lie

Honesty, truthfulness, integrity…..traits that are often overlooked these days in our goals of rising to the top.  One little white lie never hurt anyone….did it?  It’s so easy to tell ourselves that….that its not that big of deal….that we aren’t hurting anyone.  And it may not hurt anyone….but we have to live with that lie, or fib….however big or small it may be.

The story I will share today I have to be careful with.  I have to be extremely vague, but hopefully God will allow me to get my point across in as clear a way as I can.

Has something ever happened to you where someone asked you to lie for them?  To fabricate a story to help them in some type of situation?  Well that’s what happened over the last few days.  I can’t say what about, but I can say that the results of my going along with this could have been bad……but on the flip side, you could almost say the results of my not going along with it could be bad as well.  What I can say is this…..after some prayer, some guidance from a close friend (as they prayed over me too,) I think I may be in the clear.   As of this point I haven’t had to go through with the decision that I have made.  And that decision is to tell the truth…..when and if that time arises.

Integrity is one of those things that we have to live with….that only we know if we have broken that trust or not.  And trust me, I know this more than anyone.  Just a few years ago I was faced with a situation….just a small one….one that could affect only me….and that time I fell on the wrong side of the fence.  I lied.  And the ripple effects of that lie changed the course of mine and my family’s lives.  I believe I am on the right path that I’m supposed to be on, but I believe there was a better way to get here.  I didn’t have the relationship with God back then that I have now.  I learned my lesson from that instance, and that’s why this new situation is much easier to traverse.

David says in Psalms, “Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity, and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.  Examine me, O Lord, and try me;  test my mind and my heart.  For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth (Psalms 26:1-3.)”  David also says, “O Lord, who may abide in your tent?  Who may dwell on Your holy hill?  He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart (Psalms 15:1-2.)”

So in whatever situation comes up where your integrity is challenged….hold strong to your faith.  Hold strong to the truth.  I heard a quote the other day, actually the morning before all of this started, that made a huge impact on me.  Little did I know that only a few hours later this quote would mean so much more.  I will not become something that I’m not in the pursuit of something that I want.  

I will not lie to gain an advantage, however small it may be.  If telling the truth has some sort of consequences in the eyes of men, then I will accept those.  But I will stand firm in truthfulness.  Like Paul wrote to Titus, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us (Titus 2:7-8.)”   Don’t ever give anyone any reason to question your integrity…..don’t let people think, “Can I really trust you?”

I wish I wasn’t put in the situation that I was.  Because once again…there could be ripple effects….but this time I will be on the right side of the fence.  I will steer clear of the pitfalls that come with “that one little bit of dishonesty.”  Because no matter what happens, God will be with me.  God will remind me that I made the right decision.

I pray that you are never put in the situation that I was placed in, but if you are….make the right choice.  Speak the truth.  Trust in God.  Don’t succumb to the temptation of the devil and don’t worry about what your fellow-man may say or think.  Because at the end of the day, you are the one who has to live with your decision.  The others involved will move on….upset with you or not, but they will eventually forget.   We however, will have that “little lie” burnt on our hearts forever.