Christian Living

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LEN'S LINES --- A Little Religion With A Positive Note By Len Granger

What Is The Value Of A Lie?

I think we can all recall a time when we said it was only "A little white lie." about something? Oh! we may have even thought, it didn't matter. it was just a small lie. How small is small and did it effect someone? How did we feel after telling a lie and did it make us feel better? I have often wondered why we call it a White Lie as a lie is a lie. Maybe it even grew and became a different colored lie?

The Bible tells us as Christians in Colossians, Chapter 3 Verse 9-10, " Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him".

Many years ago, I was faced with a decision that I can remember very well and it could have changed my life. It even makes me uncomfortable thinking about it some fifty years later but I praise the Lord he carried me through the rough waters of temptation and put my feet on dry ground.

While living in Greece, I was involved in an automobile accident when driving through Athens. As I waited for a signal to change the accident happened right before my eyes and it involved me. A large dump truck was crossing the intersection and a small car went through the red stop light opposite where I was waiting and collided with truck. The truck driver swerved towards me, as he attempted to keep from getting hit, and struck my car on the drivers front corner. The collision drove my car backwards and I was thrown about. My elbow went through the drivers side glass window but I was not too badly injured, so did not go to the hospital. All the broken parts of the car grill were recovered and my 1956 Chev was reassembled Greek style. They did wonders fixing and pounding out the damaged fender until it was like new.

The accident was scheduled to go to traffic court a few weeks later. To my surprise I received a phone call from the attorney representing the driver of the small car . He asked what I saw and I told him in detail that the driver of the truck accidentally hit my car as he tried to avoid having a major accident with the small car. He was glad that my car had been repaired and wanted me to do something for him.

The attorney asked that I tell the judge a totally incorrect version of the accident, that his client was not responsible, and the truck was operated in an unsafe manner. After explaining over and over just what he wanted me to say to the judge in traffic court, he added , if you do as I tell you , we will do this. -- I will give you $3,000 US dollars and you can say it was for pain and suffering. I told him "I would think about it".

When the Court day came, I prayed again and the Lord said Christians do not lie, even if you might gain, and although it did not effect you, others would suffer. I told the truth on the witness stand and the truck driver and his wife and kids I could see were all smiles. Later the attorney called me and said you agreed to our story, but I reminded him , that I would consider it and as a Christian I could not knowingly lie. He said he would make life difficult for me and my family and my Greek auto insurance was canceled. The American Embassy told me if the newspapers carried an unfavorable story, that I and my family would be out of Greece in 24 hours.

The newspaper article told how an American serviceman stood up to the temptations of the powers to be and they gave a good account of the court actions. My Greek neighbors came over and thanked me as did the truck driver and his family. The Embassy covered my auto insurance until I could find another source. and we as a family stayed in Greece another two years. When the truth was known, the little car was driven by The Wife Of The Mayor Of Athens, Greece.

I could never have been comfortable living with that lie, Maybe it could have been classified as a "Little White Lie" at the time but I am happy today that the Lord spoke to me in firm words, that many years ago.

Trust this Sunday will find us all worshiping our Gracious and Loving Lord Jesus Christ, in the church of our choice,

God Bless America

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