Proverbs 27:19, “As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.”
Live so as you can answer to yourself! That is what our text passage means. When you look at your face in a calm body of water, you can see your reflection. Likewise, when we look into our own heart, we know what we really are. You can fool everybody else, but you cannot escape what you know about yourself. Romans 14:22, “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.” When you live in such a way that you can go to bed at night, and KNOW that you did the right thing, that is a great feeling.
If in your heart you know you are doing right, that is all you need to answer to. When you look in the mirror, you know what kind of person you are. Can you look yourself square in the eye and know that you did what was right? Proverbs 28:1, “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” When we do the right thing, we can have the boldness of a lion. There is no worse feeling than knowing that you did something wrong, and you are guilty, even if everyone believes you are innocent. And contrawise, even if everyone thinks you are guilty, there is no better feeling than to know in your heart of hearts that you are innocent.
Proverbs 15:3, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” God is omnipresent, He sees all. Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” Dear reader, I don't care who you are, God sees everywhere you go and all that you do, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Nothing escapes the eyes of God. Judgment day is coming for every human being (Hebrews 9:27). We have a sin problem in America!
There is no greater reward than to be able to look yourself in the mirror, and know that you did what was right. If nobody knows you've sinned, you still know it! The ultimate of compliment is not when other people say nice things about you, but when you can look in the mirror and KNOW that you did what was right. You know what you think, others don't. You know the motives of your heart. We live in a world that is so perverted concerning what right is. In the final analysis you've got to answer to yourself. The doing of right is it's own reward!!!
We should value character more than personality. Talent seeks attention; wisdom pays attention. Americans have a perverted way of judging people. We look at their personality and judge them on that basis. Some of the most ungodly people in this world are very cordial, kind and sweet. The Devil is always smiling! The Bible says Satan appears as “an angel of light” (2nd Corinthians 11:14). The sad truth is that we'll vote for a friendly smiling crook before we'll vote for unfriendly man of character, honesty and decency. The Bible says a good person is one who has character. We ought to judge people based upon their character, not merely their charm and personality.
A Christian man recently wrote to me and said that he has a problem with looking at dirty naked pictures of women, indecency and smut. He said that he is “addicted” to internet filth and asked me what to do. Humbly, here is part of my response:
...Concerning addictions. Kindly, what you call an "addiction" is really a lack of character. 2nd Timothy 2:19, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." God does not command us to do anything impossible. If I choose to commit ANY sin, it is a lack of character. An addiction is simply a lack of character which has been permitted to get out of control. All addictions begin with a lack of character to do the right thing, and it gets worse. You can do right if you want to. Get rid of your computer if it is causing you to stumble. Jesus said to cut your hand off if it offends you, or pluck out your eye. He simply meant that the Bible is serious business, and people should take it as such. I am as much a struggling sinner as the next guy, so I am not condemning you, God forbid. We all lack character in some areas, otherwise we would be sinless and perfect, but only Jesus is sinless and perfect. 2nd Corinthians 10:5-6, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
The way to stop lying is to tell the truth. The way to stop lusting is to respect the sacredness of marriage. The way to stop aborting children is to value the sanctity of life. I preach to myself first and foremost. We all lack character in some areas, otherwise we would be sinless and perfect, and only the Lamb of God is sinless and perfect. Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Something that is woefully lacking in churches today is preaching against sin! That is why we see no revivals in churches today. If we want to have revival, we've got to get the sin out!
“Revival is falling in love with Jesus all over again.” –Vance Havner
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