A
few days ago I spent a little more time than usual catching up on
reading blogs online and ended up running behind in my morning routine.
Even though I knew I had enough time to get to work, I felt the need to
make up for my lollygagging. Now, normally I drive close to the speed
limit on my route to work since there are a few places where motorcycle
officers like to rest on their Hondas (or whatever they ride), but that
particular morning I felt the need to drive a little faster than usual.
And I thought, if character is who you are when no one is looking, then
what does this morning say about me?
I asked a couple of people what traits a person of "good character" would have. Some of the responses were Honesty---Integrity---Loyalty---Good morals---Decency---Modesty---Reliability
Of course, this is not an
all-inclusive list. One of the people that answered went on to say that
someone of good character is someone who strives to be Christ-like.
That's an honorable ambition,
to be Christ-like. But you know what? We all fail at that. So does that
make us bad people? No, not if we do our best every day.
But do we? Can we honestly say
with the utmost integrity that we are 100% loyal in practicing good
morals, decency and modesty, with 100% reliability? Do we really try our best in every action
to be Christ-like? I don't think I've met another human being who can
say that he or she does. I know that I can't. Otherwise I wouldn't
have felt the need for speed earlier this week, and drivers wouldn't
need the warning sign that is shown in the picture (and the officer
would be at It's A Grind sipping coffee instead of sitting on his
motorcycle).
It's been said, "Sow behavior,
reap habit. Sow a habit, reap a character. Sow a character, reap a
destiny." For those that believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and
Savior, our destiny is eternal life in heaven. But our behaviors,
habits, and character do not meet God's standard of holiness and would
taint the purity of His glory. That is why Jesus took on our sins when
he died on the cross. For, as Watchman Nee
once said, "The Spirit can't anoint what the cross hasn't crucified."
When we surrender our character, flaws and all, to Christ and accept
His forgiveness, we will be able to partake in the glory of heaven.
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