This is the kind of thinking that’s going on in Washington right now…and pretty much for too long to even remember.

The American political system has been dominated with the two pronged party model for over 150 years. What we’ve found during that time is that neither party is infallible or even near it, much to each party’s chagrin. It will always be that way and there’s a reason for that.

A MARRED IMAGE

Normally, what we see when we see a politician is an image of what they think the people want to see and hear.  An image lacks substance. It can be a reflection at best. However, as much as we want to try to make it so, an image is not the real thing.

Recently, we’ve seen two images of politicians shattered.

The first is Nevada Republican front runner for president of the United States in 2012, John Ensign. Ensign recently admitted that he had an extramarital affair with a campaign aide.

The other is Monica Conyers, chairwoman of the Detroit city council and wife of House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.). She’s just accepted a plea deal concerning federal bribery charges. I think the following video of a council meeting speaks volumes.

MAJORING ON THE MAJOR

It’s sad to see this happening. Yet, this is a prime example when people get caught up in their image instead of building their character. We’re all susceptible to this. No one is exempt.

The problem today with people, not just politicians, is that they’re more concerned about their image instead of their character.  So when the rubber meets the road behind closed doors or otherwise, their true self is reveal.

Booker T. Washington is known for saying,

Character, not circumstance, is makes the person.

Baron Thomas Babington MacAuley defined character as

The measure of a man’s character is what he would do if he knew he never would be found out.

THE HEART OF THE MATTER

The one thing that no party or person on the face of the planet can escape from is summed up in one word.

Sin.

The prophet Jeremiah said:

The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

Two points to consider:

1. This is a rhetorical question. The answer is obvious. No oine can, not even

Heart Of True Character

the person who owns the heart. It means that the person’s heart is the first one to deceive an individual into thinking that they’re more than what they are.

The societal phrase, “Follow your heart,” is dangerous. It’s suicide. Follow God.

2. It didn’t say the heart of an evil man. It said the heart of man, meaning mankind. Everyone. Man. Woman. Child. Everyone.

Jesus says it like this:

But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings: (Matthew 15:18-19)

Ye offspring of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The good man out of his good treasure bringeth forth good things: and the evil man out of his evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. (Matthew 12:34-35)

People must come to the realization that they are useless, condemned, sinful, evil, hopeless, hell bound souls. This is the character of man without the Lord Jesus.

However, with Him, our character will begin to produce the fruit of the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

The only way we can be what God has called us to be is in dependence on Jesus Christ. To imitate Him. That way when people see us they’ll see two things: the image and character of Christ.