Would Your Reputation Pass the Test?

I shudder to think what it would feel like to have my life become an open book for the world to read about daily. Oh, wait! I am about as close to an open book as I can get here on social media. But then, again, my life pales in comparison to those front and center on the main stages. My day started this way: I was wide awake at 3 am. Knelt beside my bed and prayed. Went back to bed. Nada. Got up at 3:30 am. Remembered I needed to descale my Keurig coffeemaker. So, I did. Why? Because I could. The life of a single, very low-profile woman!

But if my life were high profile and public, I’d like to think that I would measure up to the task. But I don’t know if I could handle the ugliness and viciousness of the anti-God media that seems keen on destroying any credibility that someone may possess. I’ve done some personal soul-searching in the light of what Judge Amy Coney Barrett is having to bear up to in these ugly times when the other side is bound and determined to skew truth and credibility. Not to mention our President with his untold haters — under even more scrutiny multiped by 10,000. I’ve thanked God, innocent or not, that no one has ever pulled something from my past to use against me. If anything good can come out of all this, perhaps it’s to awaken us to be certain we are living a “clean and pure” life. I pray Judge Barrett’s hearings will stay on course and she comes through unscathed as her life is revealed as one above reproach. And I pray for our President’s healing — spirit, soul and body.

I am reminded of the “tawdry” story of Joseph in Genesis. You must read it for yourself. It’s a story of false accusations that turned into redemption. Quick summary: Joseph is despised by his jealous brothers who sell him into slavery. Potiphar buys him and finds him to be a man of character and integrity and gains much favor. The plot thickens when Potiphar’s wife “sexually harasses” Joseph, lies about him and he goes to prison on false charges. Look at what he faced: jealousy, deceit, lies, scandal, a prison sentence — oh, but God was watching. If we read on to the end of Joseph’s story, we see the favor of God on his life and his redemption unfolds as he is promoted to Governor and becomes the “savior” to his family and nation.

By God’s grace, good prevailed for Joseph. Joseph provides a model for us, that even when we are falsely accused and wrongly treated, we carry on living an exemplary life, allowing God to make it right in the end. God sees us, too, and He uses everything we experience for our good, if we live above reproach. The old saying “Do what I say – not what I do” doesn’t hold water anymore. It behooves us to be careful who we hang out with, where we hang out; to be wise in our activities and our decision making and being sure that we are in the right places at the right times. Only God and we, ourselves, know the total truth about our lives. Living with the WWJD perspective: “What would Jesus do?” would most certainly help steer us in the right direction of living above reproach.

I heard this question asked: “If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Never has it been clearer, that character should be the highest priority for our children, our peers, our neighbors, our constituents, but most of all….to God. He has a front row seat in our lives. Our actions DO speak louder than words. It makes Dad so proud of His kids when He sees them “doing the right thing when no one is looking.”
Psalm 119:9 “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your Word.”