We have two bathroom scales.

The second scale was a freebie, and we use it for the Bluetooth feature that connects it to an app on our phones and tracks our weight changes. When I discovered that the Bluetooth scale measured my weight about four pounds less than the other scale, I decided I would weigh myself on both—I know the other scale is accurate.

However, I recently noticed that I always manage to “forget” to check my weight on the accurate scale. Apparently, tracking my weight on my phone has become more important than knowing what I really weigh. I gave up striving for any particular weight goal a long time ago, but that smaller number was very alluring. It was so alluring, in fact, that I started telling myself little white lies in order to maintain the delusion!

Maybe, the Bluetooth scale isn’t really wrong?
Maybe, I’m wrong to think the other scale is right?
I know the other scale always matches the scale in the doctor’s office, but maybe the doctor’s scale is wrong, too?

Mind you, all of this is happening in my sub-conscious. I was having a little conversation with myself, right in front of myself! While getting on my sneakers or reviewing my weight record, in the back of mind I was making excuses. I heard myself telling myself this very statement: “Oh, darn, I already put my socks on. I was going to weigh myself on the other scale, but I guess I’ll do it tomorrow.”

It’s ridiculous! I tell myself it will be a rude awakening the next time I visit my doctor, but then I imagine whipping out my phone to show the doc my app. “See? Look at this wonderful, scientific app I use. This is what I weigh in my world.” I don’t think she’ll be very impressed!

I know I do this with others things, too. I think we all do it.  Instead of accepting the reality of a situation, we choose to believe a “truth” of our own making. Have you ever told yourself a little white lie about spiritual things?

I’ll do better tomorrow.
This is the last time.
It’s not that bad.
At least I don’t do what she does,
I’ll read/give/do/pray more next time.
It’s doesn’t mean anything.
At least I know it’s wrong.

Little white lies about the number on a scale are one thing.  The disapproving looks of my doctor cannot compare to the day of reckoning that awaits me if I am telling myself little white lies about the spiritual “compromise” in my life. They may help ease my guilt and veil my shame, but the Spirit of God is not very impressed!

A quick search of the Bible tells us that being a Christian means living in relationship with Christ; being in relationship with Christ means becoming His disciple; and becoming His disciple means becoming more like Him.

“Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:3-6, NKJV)

I know some have thrown their bathroom scales away, calling  them a false measure of beauty and denouncing the pursuit of physical perfection. I heartily agree! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and physical perfection is as elusive as nitrate-free pepperoni! The Word of God is not something we can throw away, though.  If we are not keeping His commandments, there is no truth in us! Those little white lies we tell ourselves to help us remain complacently in sin will separate us not only from our identity with Christ, but our eternity with Him, as well.  Is that a price worth paying for a momentary comfort?

Oh, it’s not! We know the price of our sin is too high, but we keep gambling with our eternity. Our little white lies convince us we are not like “those people,” you know the ones? They have a sin problem. We’re just relaxing.  Our prayer-starved spirit is too weak to care and too lazy to battle the onslaught of temptation. Our sin-plumped flesh gleefully ignores the call to be like Christ.

Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:16b)

So, what hope do we have? Well, the Bible tells us. When we make the decision to walk as spiritual people, as Christ did, we soon find we lose our appetite for sin. The taste of compromise makes our stomach turn, and we quickly get back into step with Christ. Our sins stand out in sharp contrast to His holiness, but when we are walking with Him we are compelled by His compassion to repent. Fellowship with Christ draws to be more like Him. I don’t want to hide from the glaring truth of my failures. I want to cover them with the blood of Jesus so that nothing can separate me from His presence! I am drawn into His loving arms where I am filled with His love, restored through His acceptance, and transformed by His forgiveness. Oh, nothing can compare! 

Please, make Psalm 139: 23 & 24 your prayer. Let Him search your heart. It is the best prayer we can pray, because it is a prayer in agreement with His Word. He will be faithful to answer it! Don’t be afraid to step on His scale, my friend.  He will not look at your with scorn. He draw you to Himself with His everlasting love!

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
(Psalm 139: 23 & 24)