Truth in the inward being!
Psalm 51:6”Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”
Friend, we live in a modern world that has forgotten the word TRUTH! Immersed in the muck of lies, stealing, manipulation, compromise, dishonesty, sluggishness, laziness, Christians try to raise their heads and say praise the Lord! Satan stands on the sideline smiling…correction: laughing!
Sadly, there is not much said about being truly honest deep inside! Are you listening? Do you agree with me? Deep inside yourself, you very well know whether you are right or wrong! When you walk in late to your seat knowing that your supervisor is out of town and he would never know about it, is downright dishonest and hypocritical! You can hoodwink the world but not God! He is watching over you! Whether you are watched or not, asked or not, to be loyal and honest at all times, is all about ‘truth in the inward being!’ This subject ‘truth in the inward being’ is too precious that I don’t want to talk generally and haphazardly, let me go point by point:
Honesty in the inward being:
Vendors were richly blessing the young Christian gentleman with gifts and money though he did not ask for it. This youngster was also involved in youth ministry and he kept going without an ounce of guiltiness until I walked into his church one day to preach! He was the first one to repent, sob and finally he confessed with tears that he would never do it again. Are you listening? You may not be actively involved in bribe but still when you are part of it, you are sinning. When someone gives you some gift, don’t blindly accept it, find out the reason behind it.
I have spoken about it umpteen times, but still let me say it again, you cannot use the benefits that is meant for another individual: buying things from Military canteen that belongs to another. Carrying your driving license and other essential papers with you during driving is about being deeply honest and if you are picked up for speed driving or jumping the yellow line, paying the ‘full fine amount’ is being honest, thrusting a bribe into the traffic cop’s hands is wrong and dishonest.
Ignorantly I was using a wrong route that was one -way-traffic to my office, back while I was working; the black day arrived one day when the traffic cop decided to catch the transgressors. I found people dodging and zooming past the traffic officer without being caught, I found this very cowardly and also wondered why they did so. I stopped my vehicle and went close to the traffic officer and asked what was wrong, he replied , ‘you and your colleagues are riding the bikes in a road that is one-way traffic and it is incorrect and punishable, please henceforth do not use this way.’ I apologized and from the next day on, I went through another route that was long and time consuming, my colleagues laughed at me for being scared of the cop. You may be laughed or mocked, nevertheless, walk in the path of utmost righteousness! Do you hear me?
You have enormous temptations and pressure to compromise and give-in in your everyday life but stay fiercely committed to your cause, if not, satan would drag you down the drain: falsification of income taxes, plagiarism, bribes, building, work and business permit, construction specs, illegal copying of computer programs, software and much more. When the advocate insists that you say a couple of lies to frame the case strong, when the auditor stresses you to alter the accounts, when you are pressurized by your friends to alter your resume and include false details, and thus bombarded on all sides , you have no other prop but only God to help you stay holy. Watch what Jesus said who dislikes dishonesty:
Mathew 5:29”If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.
30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.
Proverbs 19:1 “Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool”.
Holiness in the inward being:
Stay not only away from sin but most important stay away from ‘areas’ that would lead you to sin! If only David could have avoided the place where the beautiful Bathsheba was having a bath, he would not have faced the many trials and sufferings because of that fatal error where he transgressed into the wrong area! Beware!
Delete the mobile number or block the person from your facebook if you feel it would lead you to sin. Are you listening? Be aggressive in dealing with sin otherwise you would be gobbled down by satan. I know of a married man who continuously dropped a young girl home in his department, finally it developed into an ugly relationship, stinking rumors spread about them and finally the man committed suicide at a holiday resort where they both were lodged. Caveat!
Christians! How come you don’t consider cinemas treacherous and venomous that lead you to every possible vice on earth???? You allow yourself to be immersed two hours or more watching violence, sex, unhealthy humor and worldly fun and expect not to be defiled??? Stay away from every form of media that offers you toxic poison, be it movie screen, TV screen or computer screen that would hinder your relationship with God. You are special! Remember that. Deuteronomy 7:6 "For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
When your eyes rove lustfully, immediately arrest the action and ask God to give you the strength to resist evil. It is not wrong to be tempted but it becomes sin when you yield to the temptations. You cannot win the battle alone and say, ‘why am I not able to overcome these sinful thoughts’; separate time to pray, read the Bible, fast and fellowship with good believers and also attend weekly fellowship. Young people! Listen! Find out good mid-week fellowships and join them, you would be strengthened through godly fellowship.
True Love in the inward being:
I’m not talking about uploading family photos on the facebook for all to see and rave about the lovely family; I’m talking about being true in the inward being. Are you listening??? The time we spend clicking photos of every silly move and painstakingly posting on the facebook wall, if only was spent time on looking at the lovely face of God and praising Him, we could have avoided some storms that is threatening to destroy the family peace. Are you hearing me? Dear Ladies! Please grow up and be responsible in waking up early and praying for your family rather than browsing facebook! Wake up!!! Whom you are talking to and chatting for long hours does matter! Be alert! Be cautious when you are socializing! Do not give the enemy a chance to drag you into the web of sin. Plug all loopholes! When a young girl was asked as to why she was seen too often with a particular man, she replied, ‘after all he is married.’ Being married does not give anyone a free license to move unbridled! “All the more be careful now!”
Be swift to forgive and never allow the enemy to sow seeds of hostility! Stay close to God who would make you strong and holy. 2 Peter 1:3”His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence..”
Jeremiah 17:10"I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Commitment in the inward being:
Be careful before you utter a Word! That’s a mark of a true Christian! Be it a birthday party or prayer meeting, think before you give them your word of acceptance. If you are not sure, tell them upfront of your problems rather than deceive them with your shallow promises; eventually you stand at the risk of marring your character. Let us be people of impeccable character who keep up our promises and commitment!
Our Abide Public School for the poor and underprivileged kids started with my commitment to be loyal and true to God in the running of the school. When there was not a single student in the school, I opened the school on time and stayed the whole day in the school, praying and asking God for His plans. One day, I saw a rag picker along with her infant strapped to her body, picking up garbage from the area. I called and spoke to her about her family and her children, she told me about her two other children back home who were on the roads playing. After much coaxing and persuasion, she promised to come on a particular date at 6 am in the morning and drop the kids. As agreed I was at school much before 6 am in the morning and as promised she was at my school at 6 am. Thus was birthed ABIDE ANGEL HOME and ABIDE PUBLIC SCHOOL. The three kids of the rag picker Narasamma are studying in our school. When Joshua stayed committed to God and Moses, God elevated him as a leader of Israel. That’s the key of success! Commitment! When you are faithful and committed to the small prayer cell that you are leading, God would give you a church to shepherd!
Friend, without commitment you can never hold on to God! Jesus said: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”(Mathew 16:24)
