Many people have a great reputation, but reputation is only what people think of you, judging from what they can see about you. But, of course their vision is very limited. Only God can see your heart and mine. We read in First Samuel 16:7, “… for the Lord seeth not as man seeth:; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” So we must conclude that a man can have a good reputation for a long time, but at the same time have an unregenerate wicked heart. Sin will break out on him sooner or later.

Without God dwelling in our hearts, we are very wicked. In Jeremiah 17:9 we read, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” You and I have seen very successful people do well for many years, but suddenly they steal a large sum of money and end up in prison for life. Many famous ball players end up letting dope, sex, or some other sin take them to the bottom and ruin their life. It only takes one little character flaw to bring a person to poverty. Character does count for a president, a carpenter, a candle stick maker, or anyone.

We cannot have the character that is needed in life without having God dwell within. Most people are trying to do without him in these days. That is why our whole nation is declining. Dope is on the streets, crime everywhere, men and women living in adultery like in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, just before the big fire. May God help us to have revival and let it start with us.

How about your heart today? Listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for the shall be filled.”