Over the weekend I saw a television show in which a man told about his terrifying experience when he was kidnapped by four heavily armed thugs while he was standing on a sidewalk in New York City. Stan was forced into a car, and his kidnappers told him that they were going to drive him to an ATM where he was to withdraw a specified sum of money.
Stan described himself as a “wimpy little guy” who had spent his youth trying to talk his way out of being beaten up by bigger, stronger guys. Those years of verbal gymnastics would be put to good use that night as Stan established a rapport with his kidnappers and even displayed a sense of humor. The thing that really struck me about Stan’s conversations with his kidnappers, however, was that every time they asked him a question, he told them the truth—even though it did not seem as if the truth was the best option.
On the way to the ATM the kidnappers asked Stan how much money he had in his savings account. Stan said that he realized that if he lied, they would be able to determine the correct balance by looking at the ATM receipt, and he answered truthfully, “about $150,000.” The kidnappers then changed their plan. They blindfolded Stan with his own scarf and took him to their apartment to wait for the bank to open the following day. When the bank opened, they planned to force him to withdraw $50,000 and give it to them. They had found Stan’s father’s name and address in his wallet, and they told him that if he did not do exactly as they said, they would kill his father.
As the night progressed, the kidnappers asked Stan what he would be doing if he were not with them. Stan then answered truthfully that it was his thirty-eighth birthday and that he would be celebrating with friends by attending a concert.
The next morning the kidnappers asked a still blindfolded Stan what he did for a living, and again Stan answered truthfully, “I am a U.S. Attorney.” The kidnappers were now the ones who were terrified. As they talked among themselves, the kidnappers agreed that if Stan were a U.S. Attorney, the FBI would be brought into the case immediately. As they discussed the situation, they became more and more agitated. Finally, they told Stan that they were going to take him out of the apartment and warned him not to “try anything” or they would shoot him. Once again they forced Stan into their car, and Stan “knew” that he was going to die. After driving for a short distance, however, the kidnappers pulled over to the curb, took him out of the car, and told him to start walking. Stan did not try to remove his blindfold as he began walking down the sidewalk in the direction that they had pointed him. A few seconds later, he heard the car drive away.
Because Stan had listened so carefully to everything that was going on around him, he was able to give the police excellent information. As a result, all of the kidnappers and one of their girlfriends who was present at the apartment during Stan’s ordeal were arrested within fifteen hours of Stan’s release.
What a testimony to telling the truth! If Stan had lied about the amount of money in his savings account, they might well have withdrawn a few hundred dollars and then killed him. Stan must have considered it risky to tell his kidnappers that he was a U.S. Attorney, but if he had lied about what he did for a living, they would not have seen him as a threat. Because Stan was truthful about his occupation, his kidnappers could not wait to get rid of him. No lie, no matter how elaborate, would have made such an impact on them.
Stan’s story is a good reminder that truth is always the best defense. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” He also said that He came to bring truth to the world. As Christians we need to always remember that honesty is not only the “best policy,” for those of us who follow Jesus, it is the only acceptable policy.
Sometimes life is scary, and telling the truth does not always seem like the best option. Nevertheless, we must believe that God will honor our commitment to tell the truth and protect us—even when the truth feels dangerous.
excellent!
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