Who You Are When No One Is Looking
By J.B. Hixson
03/08/2021
O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. (Psalm 139:1–2)
If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a noise? This question has plagued deep-thinkers for centuries. I like the modern version. If a man says something in the woods and his wife is not around to hear him, is he still wrong? Or better yet, consider a spiritual variation on the question: If a person does something wrong and no one is around to see it, is it still wrong? I am not sure if I can answer the first two questions, but I can say with certainty that the answer to the last question is yes.
This issue is one of character. It has often been said, “Character is who you are when no one is looking.” Character is not merely what you do or what you say or how you behave. Character is the very essence of who you are. The standard for judging whether behavior is right or wrong is not its impact on others, nor is it the opinion of others. The standard of right and wrong is God’s Word. Morality is not up for debate. Ethics are not situational. What is wrong is wrong whether it is done in private or public.
The Bible tells us that God knows the secrets of the heart. King David wrote, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.” (Psalm 139:1–2) The phrase “my sitting down and my rising up” is a figure of speech called merism in which two opposite extremes are used to imply the whole. David is pointing out that God knows everything about us, even our inner most thoughts.
Jesus Himself said, “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17) If a person does something wrong and no one is around to notice it, is it still wrong? Absolutely. We do not need someone to indict us for unrighteous behavior. We know instinctively when we have done something wrong. Even unbelievers have a conscience that serves as a “law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them.” (Romans 2:15)
Character is an internal quality. Character is what keeps you in check when it would be very easy to step outside the boundaries of God’s law. Our challenge as believers is to uphold that inner standard of righteousness when everyone else is compromising. Paul issued the challenge to believers this way: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8- 10)
Who you are when no one is looking is the true mark of spiritual maturity. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to evaluate the spiritual maturity of others based on their outward appearance. Yet, I am convinced that the greatest rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ will be given to those who resisted the urge to compromise their standards and walked in faithful obedience even when they could have enjoyed the pleasures of sin for a season without ever getting caught. Who are you when no one is looking?
03/08/2021
O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. (Psalm 139:1–2)
If a tree falls in the woods, and no one is around to hear it, does it make a noise? This question has plagued deep-thinkers for centuries. I like the modern version. If a man says something in the woods and his wife is not around to hear him, is he still wrong? Or better yet, consider a spiritual variation on the question: If a person does something wrong and no one is around to see it, is it still wrong? I am not sure if I can answer the first two questions, but I can say with certainty that the answer to the last question is yes.
This issue is one of character. It has often been said, “Character is who you are when no one is looking.” Character is not merely what you do or what you say or how you behave. Character is the very essence of who you are. The standard for judging whether behavior is right or wrong is not its impact on others, nor is it the opinion of others. The standard of right and wrong is God’s Word. Morality is not up for debate. Ethics are not situational. What is wrong is wrong whether it is done in private or public.
The Bible tells us that God knows the secrets of the heart. King David wrote, “O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.” (Psalm 139:1–2) The phrase “my sitting down and my rising up” is a figure of speech called merism in which two opposite extremes are used to imply the whole. David is pointing out that God knows everything about us, even our inner most thoughts.
Jesus Himself said, “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17) If a person does something wrong and no one is around to notice it, is it still wrong? Absolutely. We do not need someone to indict us for unrighteous behavior. We know instinctively when we have done something wrong. Even unbelievers have a conscience that serves as a “law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them.” (Romans 2:15)
Character is an internal quality. Character is what keeps you in check when it would be very easy to step outside the boundaries of God’s law. Our challenge as believers is to uphold that inner standard of righteousness when everyone else is compromising. Paul issued the challenge to believers this way: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:8- 10)
Who you are when no one is looking is the true mark of spiritual maturity. Unfortunately, we have a tendency to evaluate the spiritual maturity of others based on their outward appearance. Yet, I am convinced that the greatest rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ will be given to those who resisted the urge to compromise their standards and walked in faithful obedience even when they could have enjoyed the pleasures of sin for a season without ever getting caught. Who are you when no one is looking?
Recent
Archive
2025
March
God, Satan, and Sandy Hook ElementaryIs Haiti a Harbinger?The Evil in the “Lesser of Two Evils”New BeginningsA Truly White ChristmasThe Counsel of God's WordAll is ForgivenIdentity CrisisThings that Matter… Things that Don'tTurn Down the Volume so You Can HearWILD BOARS LOOSE IN THE VINEYARDA Measure of AssuranceReign, Reign, Go AwaySpiritual SomnambulismYou Might Be a Fool If...Bright Lights and Other DistractionsLife Is Not a Game of Go FishThere is No ComparisonLeggo My EgoThe Insanity of IngratitudeThankful for the Little ThingsSurviving the Culture of NowA Forever SaviorSlow Down and Save TimeHope in ExileDon't Just Do Something, Stand ThereTrue LoveGod in the MidstOnly God Is GreatOne Nation Under GodGodly FearThe Amazing RaceNew Life in ChristFruit InspectorsThe Calcium of the SoulGood, Better, BestLord, Please Send More BearsElusive PeaceEasily AmazedIn a MomentWhat Goes Around Comes AroundThe Good, the Bad, and the UglyIndiscriminate GraceBackseat DriverThings Are Not Always As They AppearLook for the LightDoctrine Is DeadThe Golden KeyWarm On the InsideBelieve it or NotWhose Neighbor Are You?Planks, Specks, and Self-Righteous PrigsCloudy MedicineNever Look Back?Are Monsters Afraid of You?Old Habits Die HardContending with HorsesSeeing the InvisibleNever Underestimate the EnemyGod Can Tie His Own ShoesHe did itDo You Believe in Miracles?Storybook EndingGod's Return PolicyToo Good Not To Be TrueStand UpLife's PuzzlesThe Lord is my ShepherdBeside Still WatersThe Right PathValley of ShadowsDelivered from the EnemyWho You Are When No One Is LookingBig World, Big GodIt's Who You KnowSin, the Soil, and SalvationClark Kent ChristianityPrecious MemoriesWaiting and SoaringA Little Birdie Told MeOur God ReignsTrust in the LordGive Credit Where Credit Is Due
April
Thanks but No ThanksSin... Own ItWhat You See is What You GetWill You Be A Fool for Christ?Spilled MilkThe Tenderness of CompassionLife's Instruction ManualWhere Do You Live?Stop. Look. Listen. Think.At Your FingertipsHead for the Hills?Is it Time Yet?The Balm in GileadOwn ItThe Greatest ResetAbundant GracePaid in Full
No Comments