For most of us, the honest ones, we want to be taken by others as being people of our word. We want people to treat us as having value that is more than skin deep and really dependable. But what makes a person of character is a person who says what they mean and mean what they say.
Because of being wide awake at 11pm last night, I watched a film I have seen before called, “Hacksaw Ride”. The film focuses on the World War II experiences of Desmond Doss, an American pacifist combat medic who, as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, refused to carry or use a weapon or firearm of any kind. Doss became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor, for service above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Okinawa. He saved 75 men who were left for dead because of two major foundations in his life.
First and foremost was his relationship with God and second was a promise he made to the Lord before the war. He was a man of his word!
My focus is on who this man was. He would be what we call a “Man of Principle” and one that we respect. The truth is his company hated him and his values. Both officers and listed men hated what he stood for during basic training because he refused to touch a gun. I happen to have a number of carry and conceal licenses to carry a hand gun, and yet I so respect this man. I respect a person who stands for what he believes. Who, when confronted with conflicting values, stands his ground not because he thinks he is better than others, but because of the values he holds that are worth living for and if need be, dying for. Desmond was such a man up till the day he died at age 87.
The interesting thing is that same night that I watched the movie, I had just finished a carry and conceal class to carry a firearm in North Carolina. The class was excellent and though I have other conceal carry licenses in two other states, this class was by far the best. It was excellent because it reinforced the fact that when you use deadly force you will be judged by a court of law on whether you were justified by the evidence of your actions.
One Day, Jesus had to confront His people who wanted to be respected as people of character, but were living two seperatelives. One in which they talked about valuing God and others and the other were they were living for themselves and their good supremely. One was true and the other was for show. I had to ask myself, am I still the man I think I am?
Luke 6:46-48 (NASB)“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
[47] “Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like:
[48] he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well-built.
The movie and the gun class challenged me about my desire to live a heroic life, not just a safe and comfortable one. I was challenged about whether I am a man of my word or a man who will deny my word if it cost me to much? The truth is, the jury is still out on me because I have not yet finished my course in life.
Question:
1) Are you a person of integrity and person of your word? Easy to do and hard to live out.
2) Are you ready to admit that the only way you stand strong during difficult times is if God is at the core of your life? If he is just a “friend” and not your Lord, when the trials come you will crumble.
May God help us be people of our word and may God be our Lord 24/7.
Pastor Dale
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