Do you struggle with self-honesty? Have you pondered such? Have you ever doubted your stand on ethical/moral and religious issues? Have you wondered about your individual understanding of what is right and wrong? With self-honesty as my guide, I must confess that I have to consider such things. How about you?
Some of the things we think about, yes, even worry over, have we placed then on our intellectual back burner? That is to say, we just have not decided about such things. I do not act on things on my thinker’s back burner, until I know the truth of the matter. Through study and self-honesty, I determine what is right, thus making applications in my life. The Bible is always used to decide a right path to take. It is my guide and standard!
There are too many who do not even give self-honesty a second thought, and that is also bad. There are those who have no desire for self-honesty. When people have no true guide in their lives, they become as “children, tossed to and fro, carried about with every wind of doctrine…” (Ephesians 4:14).
To act honestly on revealed and knowable truth is of prime importance. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). “…and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
As we dwell on this subject of self-honesty, I insist that the Word of God must be the final and sole authority. As an example: in the New Testament of Jesus Christ, an honest seeker of truth is found in a military officer by the name of Cornelius. Notice the character of Cornelius, “…a centurion of the band called the Italian band, a devout man, and one that feareth God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:1-2). The apostle Peter was sent to meet with Cornelius (Acts 10:17-23). Cornelius illustrated his wonderful attribute as he stated, “…Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God” (Acts like 10:33).
How many have asked, “What should I do to be pleasing to my God?” In asking this question, and at this point, our self-honesty should be aroused. Have I examined the Bible and sought an answer to my question? In all honesty, the query, “…what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37), is too important to put on the back burner.
Consider with me the explanation our Lord gave us concerning the Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:4-15). Our Lord explained, “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Do we have good and honest hearts?
“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly” (Hebrews 13:18). “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). “…praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:47).
