Let's Be Honest

 

In 1999 a number of Turkish villages were destroyed by a massive earthquake. Sadly, this could have been avoided. Thirty years prior, the villagers had been warned by sci­entists that certain towns were situated on top of a major fault line. They were instructed to relocate as soon as possible. An earthquake could occur at any time.

The leaders convened to discuss the situa­tion. Their decision was shocking. They did not demand (or even encourage) the ­townspeople to move. Instead, they redrew the geological map and moved the fault line so that their villages would no longer be in dan­ger. Nobody needed to be bothered with the inconveniences and hassles associated with moving.

For 30 years the people had peace of mind. But then a powerful earthquake hit and vil­lages were destroyed. They were told the day was coming but they did not want to believe it - they did not want to be inconvenienced. They paid a heavy price.

May we never be like this! If we get news we do not like, we must change! We must move! We cannot just “move the line.” If we compare our lives to the Gospel and discover that we are not living in harmony with the will of God, we must change.

Billy Ray Harris was a homeless man in Kansas City, Missouri who, each day, would sit out his cup for folks to deposit their coins of charity. One day a lady, Sarah Darling, put some money into the cup and when she did her engagement ring fell off into the cup. Mr. Harris didn’t know that until he found it later that evening when he emptied his cup. He took the ring to a jeweler and discovered it was worth $4000. He held onto the ring and a few days later Ms. Darling came by, and Harris returned the ring to her. Because of his honesty, Billy Ray Harris’ life has greatly improved. It’s true, “Honesty is the best policy.”

[2 Corinthians 13:5] We tend to be honest with others, day by day, in our physical life, but how honest are we with ourselves about our spiritual life? “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified.” Many tend to blame others for our poor relationship with God. Such a relationship can only be between you and God with nobody standing in the way. It’s been said – “The trouble with you is the one you groom daily.”

To be an honest Christian, one must be honest with the church. Don’t play “Hide and Seek” with the elders and the congregation. Elders have the responsibility to watch for the soul of each member (Hebrews 13:17). Members are to love one another and watch for one another. Yet some members forsake the assembly and not let anyone know (Hebrews 10:25). Are you sick and in need of prayer? Do you have to be somewhere else? Don’t develop “lock jaw” and have folks worrying and others scurrying around to find a replacement for your assigned duties. Life is fluid and we need to deal with it honestly.

We need to be honest with God. No matter what we may tell others, God knows the real truth behind our flimsy excuses. “The Lord knows the thoughts of man, That they are futile” (Psalm 94: 11). Wouldn’t one be more honest to confess their selfishness to God and ask His help in overcoming it? “God, I am sorry for not seeking your kingdom first in my life” (Matthew 6:33). Honesty is the best policy, and it will relieve a lot of stress.

“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand; and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:26-27). No one can “kick the can down the road” or move the line of eternity to be saved some day. “…Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Eternity is only a heartbeat away.