Wild man blues

When I was a young man I was working a construction job and the company had put us up in a nice motel. I was far from home and by myself sitting around the swimming pool. I immediately spied two young lovelies’ and lo and behold they were giving me the eye’. They smiled at me several times and it did not take but a minute and I went over and said hello. They were very friendly and I was beaming at my good fortune at meeting such beautiful gals so far from home.

I asked them where they were from and they said they were from the same little town that the high school from which I graduated was located. I excitedly related as much to them. “What a small world it is” I beamed. They were delighted to meet someone from the same town too and then they asked me my name. I told them; they looked at each other and without so much as saying one word, they both got up, gathered their towels and belongings and left without looking back or saying anything. I was stunned. To this day I do not know what they knew about me and/or had heard, but it could not have been good.

This morning I was listening to my messages and I had one from the person who sets up all of the speeches for the Atlanta area technology forum. This forum is comprised of various CEOS and other technology executives and entrepreneurs from some of the largest firms in Atlanta and is rather prestigious. The message was in regard to their desire for me to speak at one of their forum meetings in the Scientific Atlanta technology center. Over 100 top executives from the Atlanta area will attend. The person requesting that I give the speech could not say enough about what a great reputation I had and how much he hoped that I would accept. They want me to speak approximately one hour about how to succeed. My how times have changed!

I went to three different high schools. It only took me about a year of wild rebellious behavior to develop a reputation so bad that people would just get up and leave at the mere mention of my name. On the other hand I have been a Christian and in business thirty six years and throughout that long period of time I have developed and been able to maintain’ a reputation that is quite different from the reputation I earned as a non-Christian wild man. I am often asked to speak at churches now.

One’s conduct will determine one’s reputation. I have heard a many a parent complain that their kids do not listen’ to them. Maybe not, but I guarantee they watch’ their parents and soak it in. If you watch dirty movies, talk filthy, drink alcohol to excess, or whatever, your conduct will determine your reputation with your kids and everyone else too. More importantly God is always watching and if you are a Christian the Holy Spirit actually resides within your body and soul How it must grieve Him to see us act our worst. Wouldn’t it be a tragedy if at the Day of Judgment at the mere mention of your name, God simply got up from His throne, turned His back on us and walked away forever?

Phil.1:27
Only let your conduct be worthy
of the gospel of Christ