Stephanie Klein, an American strategist and consultant once remarked: “If someone wants to lead a double life, they will find a way to do it. And they can promise you things until your nerves unfold and you can finally put up your feet. But it can all be a lie. There are no guarantees, even when people mean what they say at the time. People change their minds. People die. And the hurt is as real as a baseball bat.” James 1:6-8 reminds us: “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
A double life could be considered as a twin existence, or leading the life of a double-minded person who amalgamates two fallacious entities in one, but ensures that both are conspicuously segregated from each other. It symbolizes a prodigious instability in life, as evil deceptively attempts to overcome goodness, which should never be allowed to happen. The notorious fable of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde represents one such epitome.
Salt and pepper are sometimes considered a double-act, or in substance, a pair of condiments that aid seasoning in food preparation. The appropriate addition of either or both may seemingly enhance the taste of the food itself during meals. They are considered a pair, but oppose each other in nature and function. Salt accentuates flavor in food, whereas pepper, although uniformly contributing to flavor, can add spice, depth, and complexity. It has the power to suffocate with its intensity. Analogously, salt could be considered by some to represent goodness in life, and pepper, the obverse, as badness. Good and evil are a dichotomy that sit at the same table, but could be regarded as equal in tangibility. Salt may be considered by some to enhance the flavor of life with its goodness, but pepper applied too liberally, can be troublesome and might smother goodness with evil. Similarly, for others, the obverse, or counterpart might be true.
Evil is avaricious in nature and frequently seeks the larger portion. It persistently tries to overpower goodness with its trait. In its attempt, it may conceal the sin of deception amongst its fold. In this field, it may exhibit vacillation of mind and evoke general indecision. This may generate a lack of reliability in temperament and create doubt, or, if recognized, a loss of trust by others. It might resemble a double-headed coin which can reveal both truth or myth depending on the side being displayed. Secrecy abounds within, especially if one side is of doubtful conduct, or character and needs to be camouflaged.
A double life can evoke significant uncertainty. Psychologically, it can create identity issues that are often difficult to control. If one, who is leading such a life, is suddenly caught off-guard, the wrong characteristic may be exposed without warning. This may evoke danger. A person of this nature may have no power over reactions and thus may live a fraudulent life. They may no longer be able to walk tall, and upright. Instead, they stoop in cowardly fashion, and may struggle to walk with the heavy burden of guilt on their shoulders. They effectively become an alien of normal life. If deception forms a part of that life, it is not Godly adherence. It is not recommended and defiles the purity of man in the eyes of God. Mark 7:20-23 confirms: “And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Acts 5:1-4 tells the story of the deception of Ananias and Sapphira. It states: “But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.”
Accountability is considered an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility for each and every one of our deeds or actions. According to Wikipedia, it can often relate to ethics and governance, but perhaps more importantly, it relates to the transparency of life. It is the liability of a person to accept, not only the responsibility for their actions, but to openly justify those deeds to others. If the acts are considered wrong or inappropriate by others, to readily accept the responsibility, and rectify the problem. If a person refuses to adopt these basic principles of morality, they may be leading a double life.
Accountability to God prevails throughout life. It still remains the personal choice of every individual. If we deceive ourselves that we can hide our wrongdoings, and not suffer any consequences, then we are, effectively living a lie. No matter how clever or devious a person’s efforts may be to conceal their illicit actions, God knows everything and will never be deceived. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German theologian once remarked: “A man who confesses his sins in the presence of a brother knows that he is no longer alone with himself; he experiences the presence of God in the reality of the other person. As long as I am by myself in the confession of my sins, everything remains in the clear, but in the presence of a brother, the sin has to be brought into the light.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 reminds us: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
Laws are not made for singular purpose, they are made for the protection of all. Temptation is forever within our reach, just as the fruits of the Tree of Knowledge were within the grasp of Adam and Eve, they still tempt us. It is our choice whether we decide to pick and taste the forbidden fruit, or to turn away and reject its offer. Romans 2:12 reminds us: “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law.” As children, we may have often been reminded at mealtimes to wash our hands before sitting down at the table for a meal. This was intended for protection through cleanliness. The same applies in adult life, if we confess our faults or sins to God in repentance of our deeds, then we also can attain clean hands before eating of His fruits. James 4:8 reminds us: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Amen.
