TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

TO BE OR NOT TO BE?

There was a time in life when I considered the opinions and assessments of others to be intrinsically indispensable to my value and identity.  Such thinking is a potential portal to superficiality and/or hypocrisy.  Because whenever we perceive and process the views of others as central to our own status in life, we are prone to embracing decisions and choices that are self-serving or opportunistic.

Over the years, I have radically altered my personal perspective.  Admittedly, it is quite pleasant to be positively thought of by others, but the acceptance of others is not mission critical to real success.

What is most important in life is HEAVEN’S EVALUATION of our conduct and character.

REPUTATION is who PEOPLE ‘think’ we are.  CHARACTER is who GOD ‘knows’ we are.

This calls to mind Reuben Gonzales, who was a leading racquetball player.  In his first professional tournament, Gonzales reached the finals.  He held match point in the fifth and final game when he made a terrific ‘kill shot’ into the corner to win the tournament.  When the ball was pronounced “good” by the officials, his family and friends got ready to congratulate their new champion.  However, Gonzales turned around and declared that his shot had hit the floor just before it reached the wall.

This admission caused him to lose the serve, and his opponent went on to win both the match and tournament.

The next issue of “National Racquetball Magazine” featured Gonzales on its cover.  Everyone wanted to know why Gonzales had done it.  Why would a professional sportsman disqualify himself after being declared the winner of the championship match?

Gonzales’ reply was simple: “It was the only thing I could do to maintain my integrity.”

INTEGRITY is tantamount to WHOLENESS.  In other words, integrity is who we are in the dark.  It’s the decisions we make, the convictions we carry and the activities we engage when we are out of the spotlight and away from the observations of others.

These days, my primary goal is loving, learning and living from God’s point of view, and it’s my life’s vision statement.  As such, I simply want to make God smile.  And He delights in simple submission to the terms of our covenant relationship.  Integrity.  In the end, it’s ALL that really matters.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed and please (above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET YOUR SOON COMING KING.  Maranatha!