Life as a Christian Woman

When my husband and I were first dating, I was telling him a story about the time some friends of mine gave me a gift certificate to bungee jump. Before I could get to the part about how I chickened out, his eyes got big and he said, “You bungee jumped? That is so cool!” Suddenly, it seemed easier to let this guy that I liked be impressed by something that I had never done than tell him the truth. No harm in it, right?

A few weeks later I was telling him about the summer I had the opportunity to go to the Soviet Union. Once again, before I finished the story that my dad wouldn’t let me go, he was so impressed I decided to let him think I had gone. What could it hurt?

Jump ahead a few years. We are married now. We are on a ski trip, my first time to try it. We take the lift to the top of the Bunny Hill (which looked like Mt. Everest to me). I sit down at the top, take off my skis, and beg hubby to let me walk down the mountain. I’m terrified! He is amazed, and says, “I can’t believe you are afraid, after all, you’ve bungee jumped!”

Through my tears, I say “I’ve never bungee jumped… and I’ve never been to Russia, either!

Several important lessons were learned that day… first, my husband learned to wait until I am completely done with a story before jumping to conclusions. And I learned that sooner or later a lie will catch up with you… And I also learned that my husband can be very forgiving!

Honesty breeds trust. When a lie is exposed, there is a separation that occurs, a wall of mistrust that is built. If one spouse can’t trust the other, or if a child can’t trust a parent, the family will break down. When leaders lie to their people, society breaks down. Honesty should be the cornerstone on which our lives are built.

One of the harder truths to understand is that it is better to be honest and be rejected than to lie and find acceptance. We should be honest and straightforward with those around us. As Christians, we must live as far above reproach as possible. Half-truths and omissions accomplish nothing in the end, except to separate us from God and damage our witness to others.

Additionally, trying to live a lie that you have built is impossible. You must constantly guard against the truth slipping out, and to keep one lie up you inevitably have to tell a few more. It is a vicious circle that eventually collapses like a house of cards.

My husband and I laugh about the “Bungee jumping in Russia” story now. But what if this lie had somehow put doubt into his heart about my honesty? It could have destroyed our marriage, crushed our family.

Honesty isn’t just the best policy, it’s the only policy that a Christian can afford.