IN THEIR MOUTH WAS FOUND NO GUILT. REV. 14: 5.
By Julia E. Duffie
This fact is expressed concerning a company whom we, as a people, profess a hope of joining. But do we sufficiently consider the requisite point of character? It is true that in our own strength we shall never be able to conquer on this point or any other. Hence we are to welcome the means God sends, that will enable us to search our hearts and motives, and by his help root out whatever there may be that is displeasing to him. Conviction of sin is the first step God takes to rid us of it, and this conviction he brings about by means of his word. It is astonishing what an amount of white lies are spoken and acted by us who claim to follow the meek and lowly One. Frequently we hear a professedly Christian mother say to her little one, If you are not good, mamma will go off and never come back, when she very well knows that earth does not contain an inducement that would tempt her to fulfill her word. Mother, you lied to that child, and whether he believed you or not, the mischief done to the little mind must be great. If he did not believe you, he must have thought that the one to whom he should look for love and care was not to be trusted; and how can you expect him to have a very deep respect for his obligations to you, when your words display so little regard for yours to him? If he did not believe you, he must certainly have known that you did not speak the truth, and how can you blame him for following your example when he fancies it to be for his interest? But your child was not the only one injured. Your heavenly Father saw the guile in you, his older child; and unless you repent and seek forgiveness and overcoming grace, you may be a greater loser than you imagine. And it is not always to the children that we speak and act dishonestly. How often in conversing we commence relating an incident that we have known or heard, thinking it to be spicy and to the point, but before we are done, become conscious that without a little addition, it is going to fall rather “flat,” or not meet the point at all. Well, let it “fall flat,” then, and think a little farther next time. You would probably suffer more, and worse results follow to yourself and others, from the consciousness of having told an untruth even in ever so small a matter than you would simply to know that you did not succeed in making the conversation agreeable. If conversation must be stupid without a little “manufactured spice,” let it be stupid until some better way can be invented to enliven it. It is not at all necessary to tell all our affairs to others, and there may be many things that it is our duty to conceal where we can do so honestly. May we all through Christ obtain that divine wisdom that will enable us to please our Father and benefit our fellows. And let us all remember that “the remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth.”