VW: I'm a Good Person!

A Voice in the
Wilderness

" I'm a Good Person! "

"..shall not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart." (Ps44:21)

"For there is nothing covered that will not be uncovered, nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops." (Lk12:2)

"..who show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts meanwhile accusing or else excusing themselves" (Rom2:15)

This season there is this new TV show I've only seen bits and pieces of. But recently saw most of one episode of the "Moment of Truth". It is a program based on the contestant being connected to a polygraph device, and answering questions. If they answer truthfully they win money. But with the first dishonest answer the game is over and they lose 'all' money they might have won up to that point. The questions bore into the inner soul, and are asked in front of spouse, family and friends, as well as studio audience. Essentially, by the time the program is aired, the contestant bares the soul to the whole world.

The recent episode I saw involved a married woman, married to a young policeman. The husband seemed to be of a more naive and 'innocent' disposition, but the woman was made up and had the disposition and mannerisms of a "party girl". When the camera would pan over to her father, his reactions seemed to suggest to me that he 'knew' what kind of woman his daughter was, and was often not approving.

Here's a sample of what took place...

Question: Have you ever been fired from a job for stealing from your boss? Answer: Yes [That answer is: TRUE]

Question: Have you ever lied and told a customer that you liked their hairstyle, when in fact you didn't? Answer: No [That answer is: TRUE]

Question: Would you be willing to be a surrogate mother for your sister's baby? Answer: Yes [That answer is: TRUE]

Question: On your wedding day were you still in love with another man? Answer: Yes [That answer is: TRUE]

Question: When on your girls-nights-out with your girlfriends, out partying, have you ever removed your wedding ring so you would appear to be 'single'? Answer: Yes [That answer is: TRUE]

Question: During your marriage, have you ever been with another man besides your husband? Answer: Yes [That answer is: TRUE]

Then, in walks an ex-boyfriend to ask the next question/s. His attitude and demeanor matches hers, more than her husband does. He's obviously a partyer and a "player"

Question: If I (ex-boyfriend speaking) wanted to get back together with you, would you leave your husband?

At this point the sister lunges forward to hit the "panic button", because she doesn't want to hear the answer.

Replacement Question: (ex-boyfriend asking) Are you still in love with me? Answer: Yes [That answer is: TRUE]

Now the show host is back. A little pre-question banter. Discussing how deep and probing the questions have been up to that point, and how 'hurtful' the answers to her family and husband; by now her husband is utterly devastated with her answers. In all likelihood the marriage is over. At one point her father has reached over to grab his hand in moral support. She is now up to the final question of the section which, if she answers truthfully, will yield her $200,000.

Question: Would you consider yourself to be a "good person"? Answer: Yes [That answer is: FALSE]

!!! UNBELIEVABLE !!!

There were other questions, not included here. But all the evidence is laid out, from her own mouth. True confessions of her activities and thoughts of her heart. To anybody, even unbelievers of the world, looking in on this scenario, the woman is a: tramp, hussy, bitch, ho, party girl, loose woman...you fill-in-the-blank.

But she views herself to be a "good person"? At least, this is what she has persuaded herself; or is "excusing" herself. (Rom2:15) The polygraph has told a different story from her inner conscience.

A few days later I happened upon one of Oprah's on-going moments of promoting the liberation of female morality. A lady's teen-aged daughter was being interviewed, as to her reactions when she discovered that her own mother worked in a "gentlemen's club" as a momentary companion/stripper to many clientelle, including married men. The daughter's ultimate conclusion was that her mother was a "good person".

And Oprah further-engendered the "good person" theme by helping emphasize what a "good" parent the mother was, because as lucrative as her "work" was, it gave her more time to "be there" for her children when they leave for school, and return home. Thus, her activities in titillating the lusts of married men was a "good" thing. She was a "good person".

Some time back on TBN I happened upon a program where Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron were out in Hollywood, L.A., or one of those places with a camera and microphone, button-holing people and engaging them in conversation about sin, righteousness, and related topics.

One of the topics they honed in on was "lying" vs "liar".

Question: Have you ever told a lie? Answer: Yes. Question: What do you call yourself? Answer: a human being.

Over and over Comfort would confront the person (and there were many): If a person 'lies', are they not called a "liar"? Well, yeah. Have you lied? Yes. What does that make you? And in no case would the person acknowledge themself to be a "liar"...but a "human being"

To call somebody a "liar" is taboo! That's like name-calling. Somebody tells an untruth, so you say to them, "You're lying" or "Don't lie to me"; so they become angry, "You calling me a liar? How dare you call me a liar!" Well, no I wasn't; but now that you mention it! IF THE SHOE FITS.... etc.etc.

This woman, everything laid out for all to hear: She plays around, has cheated on her husband, is secretly in love with somebody else, behaves like a tramp. She's behaving like the proverbial "bad girl". So: you've been doing all these terrible bad things; what does that make you? A "good person"..? You're kidding, right?

"Woe to those who call evil good..." (Is5:20)

But that's what the sinful world does, and how it views itself.

"Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know; and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, We are delivered to do all those abominations?" (Jer7:9-10)

We've done all these sinful deeds, but we can just go to temple and be absolved by God; because we're basically good people. Actually today they are teaching that you don't even need absolution because God "accepts us just as we are". Our mere presence "in church" indicates what "wonderful people" we already are; which the person on the platform assures the audience as their self-esteemed feel-good emotions are being pumped up.

"Jehovah looked down from Heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there were any who understood and sought God. They have all turned aside, together they have become corrupt; there is NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, NO, NOT ONE." (Ps14:2-3)

How often haven't we seen on the news where some young female disappears, and people bemoan, "How could something like that happen to such a 'good' person?" But they show a picture of the person in question, and she is made up with cosmetics and attire like a whore. Oh, she was such a "vivacious" and "fun-loving" person.

EXACTLY!

She was having "fun", putting herself "out there", and somebody came along accepting her 'invitation' and did with her according to her lusts. Trouble was, she hadn't considered the consequences! ...that the "wages of sin is death" (Rom6:23a)

So then, when her body is found, and the memorial service is held, the preacher/priest intones, "Father, receive Your 'child' into Heaven."

"Do not be led astray (deceived), God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." (Ga6:7)

At the last Judgment we are told, "Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were JUDGED, EACH ONE, according to their works." (Rev20:13)

And God knows every person down to their deepest soul:

"...piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature that is not revealed in His presence, but all things are naked and laid bare to the eyes of Him to whom we must give answer." (Heb4:12-13)

We might fool other people. And as the preacher says, we might not 'want' to know everything another person thinks about us...

"Also do not take to heart all words that are spoken; lest you hear your servant curse you. For your own heart knows that you yourself have also cursed others many times." (Ec7:21-22)

We might even learn how to fool the polygraph machines. A married couple might live with each other an entire lifetime without them each fully knowing the other's true heart.

But we cannot fool God. A time of reckoning is coming, and the consequences will be greater than merely a broken marriage, or lost monetary prize. Consequences are the Lake of Fire.

It's one thing to look at fellow humans as being "good people". But the Bible says...

"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will be from God." (1Co4:5)

JUDGMENT IS COMING!

"And he said to me, Do not seal the Words of the Prophecy of this Book, for the time is at hand. He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to what his work shall be." (Rev22:10-12)

All the dirty rotten secrets are out, and everybody has heard them. You still call yourself a "Good Person"?

"... that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." (Rom3:19b)

No matter your public bluster... In your conscience you actually know better. The polygraph has spoken... God has spoken... Understand that "your sin -will- find you out" (Nu32:23)

"He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but he who confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy." (Pr28:13)

Amen!