My Sister, Inda, ends her signature line with a Michael Josephson quote, “The character that really counts for both time and eternity is character that has its roots in God.” I paused and smiled. I constantly remind myself and my children that the only thing we have is our reputation, our character, our name. The good news, however, is that we can have redemption through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. No matter how messed up our character has been, when God redeems us that character is then rooted in God! The way we live, the way we talk, the way we treat other, all rooted in God.
The Gospel of John paints this awesome picture for me of a woman whom we may say, “has been around the block a few times.” I am talking about the Samaritan woman whom met Jesus at the well. I shout hallelujah each time I study this story. You see, my friends, this woman had a reputation, she had five husbands and when Jesus met her, she was living in sin with another man. However, God is our redeemer and HE redeems us, no matter who we are, all we need to do is confess and believe. The Samaritan woman recognized Jesus as the Messiah and she immediately went back to the city to tell the men about this man, the Christ. Now, just imagine, I bet not only her former husbands, but even those who called her ugly names, even the elderly who scorned upon her came to see this man, the Christ.
Psalm 107:2 tell us to, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy." That's exactly what the Samaritan woman did; she went immediately and told her city of this great man, the Christ. Glory. So, friends, it does not matter what character you have or have had, because when it is rooted in God that is all that matters! Glory, thank you Father for redemption.
My character is rooted in my God. My sins have been forgiven, my slate wiped clean, Jesus sees me for who I am, that is, a child of God! My character has its roots in God and that is what counts for both time and eternity.
