April 26, 2018 - My old granddaddy used to say, "If a man tells a lie long enough, and often enough, even he will start to believe its true." I have recently been following some stories about about these men and women who for profit, or just to make themselves look good, put on military uniforms with ribbons they didn't earn, and/or embellish their record of service in the military. Some of these "self proclaimed" heroes are so good at what they do, they have fooled members of the press, and government agencies who should know better.
President George W. Bush during his presidency passed a law called the "Stolen Valor" law that makes it a crime to lie about, or embellish your service to our country for personal gain. Stating that the law was designed," to protect the legacy of those who served honorably from the dishonorable actions of those who either never served at all, or mislead people to believe they were someone they were not" (ie. Navy Seal, Army Ranger, ...). As a veteran myself who served during a couple of conflicts and police actions, I find it disgusting that some choose to steal the valor of those who were willing to give their lives for this country.
As I pondered this problem, I realized that there are those who steal the "valor" of Christ by saying they are Christians, but living their lives as if God does not exist. They go to church, go on mission trips, teach Sunday school, and yes even preach, not because they have a love for the lost and dying of this world, but because they think they can benefit from it financially, socially, or politically. They forget that God does not judge the outward appearance of man, but his heart. That's why Paul says in 1Corinthians 13:1-3 " If I speak in the tongues of men and angels but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all that I have, and if I deliver my body up to be burned, but I have not love, I gain nothing." When we call ourselves Christians but treat people with hate and disrespect, we are not Christians at all. We steal the honor of not only the true saints who came before us, but what Christ did for us and the world as well.
People who have "been there and done that" in the military can usually spot a phony a mile away. Jesus said that as Christians we can "tell a tree by the fruit it produces". If conflict, strife, gossip, anger, discord, griping, and complaining describes the fruit of a persons life, then you can discern their heart is dark. Just as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control is the fruit of a righteous heart.
The good news is this : God loves you no matter what you have been like in the past. We just need to clean our hearts out and seek his forgiveness. Just like David who prayed; " Search me O God and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" Jesus has paid the price for our sins by His death on the cross. Trust him, seek him, give him the honor due him by loving your neighbor more than you love yourself and He will set you free.
I'm Just sayin
Mike Belgard
