I think we have all been guilty victims of doing wrong whenever no one is watching. We would rather do those things at people's back and prefer to justify ourselves, giving mundane excuses. Isn't this supposed to be dropped since we have Christ? Isn't our character supposed to come forth shining as gold that's freshly refined?
The basic reason for this difficulty is the fact that our flesh would rather do what is pleasing than what the spirit wants. Why?
It's quite appealing and easier to act in the flesh. For us, it is soothing... And this is simply because, we haven't fully grasped the fact that God's commandments aren't grievous whenever God says NO to something, we deem it as wickedness.
Hear this: "This is love for God to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome". (1John5:3).
Character is actually " who we are when no one is watching".In the corner of your bedroom, what activities do you partake in?In the recess of your mind, what thoughts do you think? In the speeches you make, what reflects of your person? What reaction do you have towards some really tough and trying circumstances? Do you give in and lower the standards, when no one is watching?
I remember vividly as a young and growing teen, I was asked not to take anything cold for no reason, even if the heat was killing. That was the doctor's instruction and my parents were so keen on ensuring that I followed it to the letter. I felt frustrated and cheated whenever there was a celebration, my portion of the wine or drink was often placed in ordinary water to make them suitable for me. Or better still, I was asked to keep it out of the freezer and take it when ordinary.
It was so annoying and irritating! I'd hiss at the circumstances and storm into my bedroom in a rage.
With time, a thought came into my head. Why not take some blocks from the freezer when no one is watching, take it into the room, pretend I'm taking the ordinary drink...and right there all the block I've kept earlier, would come pouring and rushing into the drink I'd taken into my room. "Brilliant idea", I had thought. Now, I could take my cold drinks without any worries.
Now don't start laughing at me already .
I'd sit in my room, cross my leg, savour my cold drink and stay alert to approaching sounds. You could guess what I'd do when it seemed mum, dad or my siblings were approaching. I'd tuck it right under my table, wipe my mouth and act like nothing was wrong. Look at the trouble it took me to pretend and act up!
Obviously, each time I did as I was told not to, there was always a repercussion!
My bones would ache and hurt all day and my chest would rake with terrible pains. Can you see the payment for character defect?
If I had been strong in character and seen the discipline as a necessity for a greater good, I would simply have obeyed, taken those instructions as divine and walked in it. By doing so I would have saved myself and every other person in the home all the troubles l caused by my action. You can trust me to tell the opposite of the truth, each time I was asked if I had taken the " forbidden fruit".
Aside from disobedience, I began to lie. One sin led to another, making me lose focus and throw character into the trash bin.
I struggled with this for a long time, until I came across a scriptural truth: "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful, Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it". ( Hebrews 12:11).
I'd like to enjoin us to get rid of character bankruptcy. Let's begin to consciously deposit some strong currencies into our character bank through deliberateness, determination, conscious efforts to do the right thing and above all else drawing from and relying on the power and grace of God which is always more than enough.
Prayer:
Father, help me to always do the right things and show strength of character, even when no one is watching.
With Love,
Omotola Fatunsin.
