I had a lesson written out prior to this one. It was to be on reliability. Ironically, I could not rely on myself to finish it with the proper learning benefit I was hoping for. You know, a man or woman comes to church, has evidence by means of legal pads or books implying a good amount of thought went into preparing for this next half hour or whatever segment of time given. Well, this man or woman stands right here at this podium and speaks to you. Not in a traditional Sunday school, kind of way where we all are seated in close proximity and everyone has many opportunities to ask for clarity or challenge a claim. Not in this room and I say this not to put down traditional classes going on throughout this church as I speak, but instead to bring to mind that uniqueness of the Wesleymen of Epworth. Many, many years before I ever even pretended to speak behind this lectern as a child, men of great notoriety and reliability as well as wisdom stood here and told the filled seats what they needed to hear. They did it well. They did it so well in fact, that the church, the conference, the city, and even a local pioneering AM radio station saw fit to allow the words of the teacher to be broadcast as far as the signal would carry. In my opinion, that represents reliability. I say this because not only is the teacher’s lesson seen as valid and worthy of the audiences time but the teacher himself (or herself) is looked to for his dependable nature. His reliable work ethic. His ability to be counted on. I would think the reputation of this room would be very much a molecule of the body it has demonstrated if the teacher, the man the class looked forward to and I do mean forward in more ways than one, could not be depended upon to do his duties and perform them in such a manner that qualifies him for the post.
This is not a privilege to be trifled with because there are men of much higher stature than myself who have stood here and in all seriousness spoke the word of God and then explained it in such a way that not only this class but the whole town if it so choose could learn from it correctly. They left the lesson with the benefit of the Holy Spirit functioning in their life. Not the words and opinions of some layman or nonprofessional. Albert Roper himself stood here and at no point in my life do I even dream of having a legacy of his type. What I am saying is all of these men before me had one thing in common before any other attribute was measured. They were reliable, dependable, and interested in learning the correct message to give as much as you were in receiving it. The first thing you should look for in any individual before you decide to invest any of your precious time in them is integrity and reliability in that virtue. Integrity as defined by Webster’s is the entire, unimpaired state of anything, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property, and agencies for others.
The moral grandeur of independent integrity is the sublimest thing in nature, before which the pomp of eastern magnificence and the splendor of conquest are odious as well as perishable.
Now the definition I just shared with you is from Webster’s 1828 edition. Many regard Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language as the finest English dictionary ever published. This in itself tells you about the great integrity of Webster himself.
Therefore, here I am, once again trying to measure up yet knowing that is not my job here. I could let the flesh intermingle with the obligation I have undertaken and use it as a way to puff myself up, without even giving a moment of thought to the validity or the reliability of my words. However, it is the comforter that Jesus spoke of, otherwise known as the Holy Spirit. One third of the Trinity convicts us if our faith is real and sincere. That conviction that some call a conscience is the compass we all should recognize in times when our integrity must demonstrate itself.
When I was first asked to become a teacher for this class I was taken aback although I may have outwardly appeared to take it in stride. I mean I enjoy hobnobbing with the members of the Wesleymen. You know, shaking hands, being friendly, following my father’s coat tails and his reputation without building my own. That kind of association is almost effortless. No reliability is needed. No integrity. Just pass a man in the hallway, look and walk as if you have purpose, and give the greeting of the day. As I put distance between you and I, my imagination kicks in with its arrogance. I say to myself “There goes Jack Sumner’s son. Fine, fine individual.” Yep, that’s me.
I did that through much of my youth and early twenties. I knew my dad was a man of reliability and integrity. He didn’t just wake up one morning and decide to be that way, it was instilled in him by his own father, the life he lived, the experiences he endured, the people he associated with, and the core of his heart. It is who he is. You do not lolly gag through life and then walk around the corner and people say, “Now there goes a man of integrity.” You earn every single belief that is expressed on your behalf.
When Ronnie Bagwell came to me in the Social Hall and asked if I would be interested in teaching the Wesleymen, I thought he must have been talking to the person right over my shoulder. “Excuse me Ronnie”, I would say, “Let me give you two some room to talk.” Nevertheless, no. He was talking directly to me. I knew there was no way I was ever going to tell him “No Ronnie, it just ain’t in me to be that guy.”. In fact, I saw it as an opportunity at redemption. A chance to be a man of integrity. Either that or I would let down my father’s own legacy he unselfishly lived for so many years. I knew I would never measure up to Jack Sumner but that was not my goal. Jack is not up here today. It is I. I am up here speaking on being reliable on good with your word. I am speaking of how we as Christians are the biggest symbol the secular world will ever see as to the true measure of Christ in a sinner’s life. We can be the hypocrites they claim us all to be and then confirm it with our actions for all to see or we can see ourselves as perhaps the one vehicle they may ever encounter to save their soul.
This is not lip service I give you today. It is something many of you are well aware of and truthfully, at times I feel I am indeed “preaching to the choir”. I need to learn as much if not more and I say right now that yes I am nowhere near your standard that you have set for yourselves. However, I aspire to be there one day. After all, it is not a destination but a journey, is it not? I am flawed and I have been so for much of my life. The opening Ronnie gave me was a chance to really be whom I thought only lived outside of me. A man that can be relied upon for taking the time to give an honest and profitable lesson based in faith. A man who says what he means and means what he says. Dependable.
Do not misunderstand me. I know there are times in my life where I am going to let another down as well as myself. Circumstances will arise that will hinder my best efforts to be there for someone whom I said I would be there for. It will happen. The thing is, what will I do with it? How will I compensate for it in my work for God? How will I seek recompense?
Recompense in the verb tense is defined to
Make amends to (someone) for loss or harm suffered; compensate.
I sincerely fear and then regret with profound remorse those occasions where I have let a friend down or failed to come through. I am at a loss for words and even today, I am dealing with just such an issue. I pray on it and go to God for wisdom in how to approach the situation. If that is done with a contrite heart and in the Spirit I feel forgiveness is an expected outcome and the door will open to make amends.
I have often listened to a particular Christian Rock band known as DC Talk. They have a song that is about this very thing. It helps me through its words to stay on that path of reliability and integrity while battling the flesh. I will finish today with sharing some of those words,
I've been wrestling with my conscience
And I found myself to blame
If there's to be any resolution
I've got to peel my pride away
Just between you and me
I've got something' to say
I wanna get it straight
Before the sun goes down
Just between you and me
Confession needs to be made
Recompense is my way to freedom now
Just between you and me
I've got something to say
If confession is the road to healing
Forgiveness is the promised land
I'm reaching out in my conviction
I'm longing to make amends
So, I'm sorry for the words I've spoken
For I've betrayed a friend
We've got a love that's worth preserving
And a bond I will defend
In my pursuit of God, I thirst for holiness
As I approach the Son, I must consider this
Offenses unresolved, they'll keep me from the throne
Before I go to Him, my wrong must be atoned.
Amen.
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