LITTLE “WHITE” LIES: ONE TIME WON’T HURT YOU
2 Timothy 3:1-7, 13; 4:3-4
Dr. Glenn A. Jent, Pastor
INTRODUCTION
A white lie is not mean or vicious in intention. It is typically a lie to protect someone from the painful truth. Satan would have us to believe many little “white” lies, but his intention is to deceive us. The one I want us to consider today is that yielding to temptation one time won’t hurt you. He knows that, if he can get us to believe this lie, we may give in again and again and then yield to even greater temptations. He will have succeeded in completely catching us in his trap. Let us examine this lie more closely.
I. THREE DISCOURAGING TRUTHS
1. We live in dangerous situations: wars, drugs, diseases.
2. We live among dangerous strangers: terrorists/killers, perverts, addicts.
3. We live among dangerous seducers: deceiving and being deceived.
Life in the modern world is filled with danger. Wherever we live, wherever we go, whatever we do, we face great dangers on every hand. Living in such a world does not mean that we live in fear, or fear to live, but that we live with awareness at all times. We dare not let our guard down in such a world. Satan will take advantage!
II. THREE DANGEROUS TEMPTATIONS
1. We are tempted to compromise socially—just one time.
2. We are tempted to compromise sexually—just one time.
3. We are tempted to compromise spiritually—just one time.
Satan uses all kinds of attractive bait to get us to compromise with the world. He tries to convince us that one time won’t hurt us, that we don’t have to get caught up in a lifestyle of sin. Just one time! He knows that, if we give in once, it is easier to give in the next time and the next time. He tries to convince us that the church is lying to us and cheating us out of lots of fun. His lie is not a little white lie, but a dark one!
III. THREE DISHEARTENING TESTIMONIES
1. Just one bite won’t hurt you! (Adam and Eve—Genesis 3)
2. Just one night won’t hurt you! (David and Bathsheba—2 Samuel 11)
3. Just one lie won’t hurt you! (Ananias and Sapphira—Acts 5)
These three disheartening testimonies remind us that one time can be dangerous and deadly. Just one bite led to loss of home and loss of family peace. One son kills another. Just one night led to lies and murder. It leads to loss of family peace with one son raping a sister, one son killing another, and one son rebelling against his father’s kingship. One lie led to another and finally to loss of life.
CONCLUSION
In light of what we have learned today about this little white lie of Satan, let us realize the truth. We dare not let Satan deceive us into thinking one time won’t hurt us! One time is all it takes to destroy us, our life, our family, our peace of mind, our relationship with God. Is it really worth the risk to yield even one time?
“Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin!
Each victory will help you Some other to win.
Fight manfully onward; Dark passions subdue!
Look ever to Jesus! He will carry you through!
Ask the Savior to help you, Comfort, strengthen, and keep you;
He is willing to aid you; He will carry you through.”
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