No Deceit

I had the opportunity this past week to attend the funeral of Lawrence Bauer, a quiet and reserved man when I knew him. He was one that seemed very unassuming and almost stoic in nature. When I spoke to him, he would always smile with his reply. I did not get to know him as well as I could have, and that is great loss on my part. Men like Lawrence are found few and far between. During the sermon, Jackie Stearsman used John 1:47 as an example of the kind of man that Lawrence was. One characteristic was that no deceit was found in him. It is a sad commentary on today’s society to be able to say that honest men come few and far between, but this becoming the case more often than not. Imagine if all of our politicians were honest, if all businessmen, preachers and fathers were without deceit, honest men full of integrity with a high moral character. What kind of a country would we live in; what would this world be like? A utopia!

Honesty

“Don’t you lie to me!” How many times as a child did your parents say that to you or how many times as a parent have you said that to your children? We expect children to always tell the truth, and when they don’t, we make sure that the punishment fits the crime. It is too bad that we do not hold adults to the same standard as we do children. Nowadays, we seem to be comfortable with politicians telling us not to worry about what they have said to other people. “We really don’t believe in what we told them,” or “Trust me I’m lying,” they would say just to get elected. We have come to believe that lying is okay as long as you do it to keep from hurting someone’s feelings. “But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'” (Mat. 5:37). The word let in this verse is not a mere suggestion, something that you maybe should do but not really. It is an imperative; it is required. Christ is commanding that we speak the truth and that only. There is no need for excuses, for beating around the bush, telling everyone everything except for what is required. Yes and No suffice as answers for most questions.  For the Lord said in that same verse, “For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

Integrity

The American College Dictionary says that integrity is “soundness of moral principle and character; uprightness; honesty.” Integrity is the building block, the foundation of a just, upright, honest man.  In Proverbs 11:3 we are told that “The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.” How we decide to live our lives will determine many times what will happen to us in this life. If we walk down the middle of the street at night we are sure to be hit by a car, but if we walk on the sidewalk we have a much better chance of getting to our destination unharmed by a car. Not only does our lifestyle determine what will happen to us, it will also have an effect on our children as well. “The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him” (Pro. 20:7).  I have heard many people say that they want their children to have better lives and to become better people. This can only happen if that child is trained up to have integrity and to do those things which are right in the sight of God. If we are not the proper examples that we need to be, then those following after us stand little chance if any to make something of themselves. “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility” (Titus 2:7).

Character

I have been told that true character is who you are when no one is looking. The American College Dictionary says that character is “the qualities distinctive to an individual; strength and originality in a person’s nature.” We can fool just about everybody including our spouses into thinking that we are something other than what we truly are. God knows us. He knows our secrets and all that we think and do even when no one is watching (Ps. 69:5). When we look to elect officials to a public office, do we look at the people for what they are, how they live their lives, if they truly are the upright, moral people that they say they are? When we look for a mate, do we look past the outward appearances and into their heart to see if it is love or lust that motivates them? When we look at ourselves, do we see who we are, what we are becoming, and what we have the potential to be?  When God looks at us, what does He see? “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope” (Rom. 5:3-4).

Conclusion

One of my great goals in life is for someone to say at my funeral, “That was an upright and honest man, one that is just and full of integrity.” More than that, I hope that the Lord would be able to say that of me as well, not only when I am at the end of my life but even now. What is it that we are striving to be? If we died today, what would be said of us? What would God say of us?