GOD DESERVES OUR HONESTY
Honesty isn’t the best policy with God; it’s the only policy – Touchstone
The scripture says, “If You Lord should mark iniquities, O Lord who could stand? [Psalm 130:3]. Invariably it means God had searched us and known all about us. He knows our frame; we were conceived and born in sin. He knows we are sinners and there is nothing good in us. It was not surprising that the Book says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God [Romans 3:23]. Our Creator God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And God was sorry that He created man on earth and He was grieved in His heart [Genesis 6:5-6]. “An average person has an amazing capacity of self deception ………not everybody is prepared to accept the discipline of self-honesty.”
What is surprising is not that God is unaware of our shortcomings and failures but human beings are dishonest about their nature and disposition. We deny who we are and pretend as if we need no help. We live foolishly as if God does not exist and does not care what we do. We live as if the work of Jesus on the cross of redemption was in vain or as if God is a lair. However, blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven. For your sin to be forgiven it must be repented and confessed. The Psalmist says, “For I acknowledged my transgression and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only have I sinned and done this evil in your sight [Psalm 51:3-4]. Again, he says, “I acknowledge my sin to You and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgression to the Lord. And You forgave the iniquity of my sin [Psalm 32:5].
By being honest and accept our imperfections, we obtain forgiveness and mercy as well as restoration. There are issues in us that need to be confronted and resolved. We should not pretend there neither exist nor try to hide them. If we must advance in our relationship with Christ and one another we need to accept the vital principle of self honesty. In A Touch of His presence, Charles Stanley wrote, “All spiritual authenticity begins and continues with a transparent admission of our struggles…..The longer David suppressed his sin, the more his heart ached. Only when he brought his sin to the light of God’s mercy and forgiving presence did he sense God’s comforting presence.” So many relationships: marriages, friendships and acquaintances have been ruined because of dishonesty and lack of transparency. Where dishonesty is in rooted, “greed had replaced justice, money had triumphed over mercy, and judicial system was merely a pawn of power and privilege used to oppress the very people it was intended to protect. The righteousness of God was no longer the standard in the land.” – in Loving God, by Charles Colson
Honesty is so important to God that when Jesus saw Nathanael, He remarked, “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit.” God want us to be honest with Him in our feelings, our emotions, our ambitions, our failures and limitations. In spite of human attempts to hide our frustrations, disappointments, alienations from God, He already searched and known us beyond our imaginations. Until we come honest to God, we will not develop a trusting relationship with Him. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” [Proverbs 3: 5]. Where there is no trust, there is no love. One of the things that made King David a man after God’s own heart is not that he committed no sin but because he was always honest about his failings to God. It was no surprised that He begins the book of Psalms with: Blessed is the man who does not walk in the ways of the ungodly or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of the scornful [Psalm 1:1].
Finally, know that the Lord is righteous in all His ways. Gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him; to all who call upon Him in truth [Psalm 145:17-18]. “By mercy and truth iniquities is purged and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil. When we are honest with God, our ways will be pleased to Him and He causes even our enemies to be at peace with us [Proverbs 16:6-7].Can pots tell the Porter how to make them or try to hide its make up from the porter? One lie always attracts another to cover up and there’s no end to it. Honesty may be seen as politically insensitive and incorrect and attracts hatred, hostility and public condemnation but it’s the truth that you know and do that sets free. It could be politically dishonest to say that marriage is between a man and a woman and our world inclines to exactly the opposite. However, the Judge is the designer and creator of marriage; He made it between opposite sex. For example: If a car is made to be driven with gas and I decide to fill my tank with kerosene or water ignoring the maker’s instruction, then I am out of order. Our society believes that God helps those who help themselves but the bible teaches exactly the opposite: God cares especially for those who can’t help themselves. Honesty will mend our relationships and change our entire lifestyle. It’s not too late to try to turn a new page. The gain is worth more than the pain. Let’s begin a new with God, He will sanctify and restore us; heal our relationships, society and lands.
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill at: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P.O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.