True Character

By Carlos Garcia
Staff Writer

CBN.com – The truest manifestation of our character is what we do with the mundane, the every day, and what we do when people we fear/respect are not in our sphere of influence. Many have "character" when being watched, but how many of those have it when no one is looking? I say, not many.

Character is not what a person claims to personally have. Character is what others testify of you. If you boast of having character excessively, your boast is a hot air balloon being tossed by the winds from place to place -- no consistency and no direction, no substance ... hollow.

True character is not in the saying, not in the boasting, but in the living. Character is walking in integrity, not while being watched, but when in our own space, when no one of apparent authority is present. True character is acknowledging and living like there is a God who is All-knowing and All-present. You want to be pleasing to God, not just every once and a while, but at all times and not just when it makes us look good.

Can anyone do anything outside the presence of God? Can anyone hide from God? You might hide from men, but from God … never. (Read Psalms 139: 7-24)

Some have allowed themselves to come to the place where their character has so diminished that they could care less if God is present. They are caught up in “wanting to do what they want to do.” They have determined to do whatever pleases them at the expense of pleasing God.

Then when the piper comes a calling to have them pay the price for the bad seed they’ve sown, somehow it’s God’s fault or God has forsaken them. When in actuality, they have forsaken God and they are reaping the harvest of rebellion. They have “sown the wind and have reaped the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7). What was bad is now much worse and what was a “secret sin” is now public news.

Their sins have become a spectacle in the eyes of men and brought disgrace to the name of Jesus. But thank God for mercy. If not, we would be overwhelmed (Psalm 40:11-13) and the waves would overtake us (Psalm 42:6-8).

If you are hiding, that’s an indication that you are heading in the wrong direction. The truth is that if you are walking in secret sin, you have departed from the Lord.

To get in right relationship with God, you must admit that you have sinned, confess your sin, and repent. Receive God’s forgiveness, forgive yourself, and find accountability.

Flee from sin and the circles that cause you to sin. Run from disconnection and find your connection in the community of God, God’s people, the church (Spirit-filled and Bible believing). Unfortunately, many think that they can walk strong in the Lord without being part of the body of Christ, but the truth is, if you look at the animal kingdom, it’s the animals that leave the pack that get attacked.

Stay connected, remain submitted to godly authority, and run the race with a pure heart and clean hands. Be a person of true character, one who is honored first by God and then entrusted by men.

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Carlos Garcia, III has recently published an amazing e-book of poetry, I Choose You: A Poetic Journey. He earned a B.A. from Oral Roberts University in Church Ministries and is completing a M.A. in Communication at Regent University. Carlos' experience includes serving as Pastor of Casa de Oración, Inc. He has ministered for over 12 years as a lead phone counselor for Christian Broadcast Network, Inc. addressing a plethora of spiritual and emotional needs. Carlos and his wife, Liz, have been married over twelve years and they have three children. They reside in the Hampton Roads, Virginia.