Character Vs. Reputation

My husband & I were asked last December 17, 2011 to lecture in a group of young people pertaining to what's really important - your character or your reputation. Both are important, in my own point of view. Came December 23, solo-flight, I used the topic to discuss within a more larger group of Pastors' Kids. I even asked one of the oldest (he's older than me 10 years actually and already a minister handling a church in Bukidnon) if for him, what's more important - character or reputation? To which he readily replied - reputation.

Reputation is what matters to most of us. But, what does reputation means? According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, it is an opinion about one's entity, a result of social evaluation on a set of criteria, may be considered as a component of the identity as defined by others. Please take note of the words used - OPINION and EVALUATION. My husband defines reputation as what others think of you - may it be highly or the other way around. And We both have the same view.

Character I define is a result of your attitude, your inner you, what you think, what you feel and who you really are. Just like cartoon characters, Tom is known as the cat who sometimes befriends Jerry the mouse but frequently races after the latter because of Jerry's nuisance in his peaceful living. Make another story using Tom and he will not be recognized by the viewers. Just like with Snow White and any other famous kiddie and adult multimedia faves. They are all recognized because of their characters.

"If I take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself." Reputation then is the product.

And where does reputation come from? It is what others think of you after you have shown them your character. And there is a 'but'. We all know we cannot please everybody. There'd be standing ovation, there'd be people without no reaction at all and there'd be people who tend to look for flaws. It's normal and I mean natural. Remember the cliché. We cannot control what's inside other people's heads.

A person may have a bad character but has a good reputation. And a person too can have a good character but has a wicked reputation. Either way.

Hows and musts? When we live according to the will of God, stirred inside by the conviction of the Holy Spirit, living with a conscience, walking in the pathways of good - that'll be our character. Let our reputation be from our Lord. After all, it's Him whom we're living for. We may be marred and thoroughly stained in the eyes of the flesh, but in Heaven's eyes - we are the most precious.

Romans 1:10-17

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…” To those who believe, would you? Neither would I.

“For it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…” Jesus Christ is the center of the gospel.

The first four books of the New Testament talk focused on His birth, His growing up years, His ministry on earth and the betrayal, how He was persecuted, crucified and died and His resurrection which entitles Him as the one true God. Without Him being human, without Him on the cross, without His death – the repentance of man and redemption from sin would be impossible to achieve. Imagine how the Old Testament people offered sacrifices to God, how many days they must fast and the levels they ought to face before they can come near to the throne of God, before they can talk to Him and before they can confess of their sins! The atonement was Christ’s sacrificial body which lifted the hardest laws of God the Father.

“For the Jew first and also for the Greek.” Salvation is not just for a limited number or names of people and those elite cults and groups who claim they are the ones who could go to heaven. It is Biblical and the Word of God clearly states that SALVATION IS FOR EVERYONE WHO believes in CHRIST JESUS.” Warning: Alteration of God’s Words is one of the mistakes human is prohibited of doing. Let us not put God’s holy and sacred Words into our hands.

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the just shall live by faith.” Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Faith as the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1. It is even impossible to please God without faith, Hebrews 11:6 for we come into His presence, we seek Him even we don’t see Him – that’s faith. Faith in God, the Son and the Holy Spirit amidst chaos and under all circumstances. Faith that in everything we give thanks for it His will (I Thessalonians 5:17) that after all this world’s sufferings, we have our greatest destination. And we will reach that wonderful place when we have the faith.

And I would be selfish if I would just keep this great truth to myself. This is not any new news to many. There are just minds and hearts that are very fickle to accept and understand the clear message of the gospel. The Bible is an open book, His Word, doctrines are made by man. Anything that man makes that is not in accordance with the Bible, is false.

Just For Today

I was in downtown this morning. The everyday lives of people on the streets, inside offices, banks, supermarkets and department stores went the usual ways. After going to my bank, I decided to go to my attended church in the city and join people in there for lunch. On my way on the streets of San Pedro and Washington I saw them. They were there last year and they're still there up to now. Sitting on the sidewalks. Others were lying still. Looking thin and hungry. With dirty clothes on. Barefooted. Holding grimed plastic cups. Begging for coins and food from passersby. At times I choose to ignore them but there'll be days I'd voluntarily search for a five-peso or ten-peso coin from my purse to drop into those empty containers they have.

Many times I'd pretend in my thoughts in which I were one of those who can live all night long on the streets, lying on tattered carton boxes and covering myself with messed-up plastic sacks. I'm just grateful to God and thankful to my parents that they had afforded to shelter me under a well-fixed roof surrounded by sturdy cemented walls, fed me well and even gave me things that weren't that necessary to live on. And as I am now on my own with a family, God is still so good blessing me with a husband who is responsible in making money to feed his wife, his daughter and to support the whole household. My praises to God.

I am not 'yet' a billionaire for me to gather all those people I just saw and give them home, work & food. They may have their own histories why they are there and why they are called beggars. As of this time, all I could offer to them are some coins, packs of biscuits and a prayer.