Character is What God Knows

We often say we know someone, either by name or reputation, or better yet through a direct relationship. As I read this quote from Thomas Paine, I wondered…

Reputation is what men and women think of us; 
Character is what God and Angels know of us. 

- Thomas Paine 1809

When we say we know people, we know them by reputation, we know how they behave, speak, act and we know them depending upon the amount of time we have actually spent with them. Do you REALLY know them? Their hopes, fears, anxieties, what keeps them up at night AND what they like for breakfast? Maybe you know them from work, or know them through church? Maybe they are your neighbor? Maybe they are members of the same club? Do you know a portion of them, or the entire person? In the end we know people, or more likely we know a portion of who they are, we may not know them fully. Not the way God knows them.

In all of us there are pieces of ourselves that we keep hidden. We store those thoughts, ideas and fears away and do not show them to anyone…and that means ANYONE! There might be a best friend in our world, one that understands our soul, someone in who we trust and confide…yet even that person does not know our thoughts like God knows our thoughts. Maybe that is why having a relationship with God is such an important part of being a fully realized human being? God is the one being that knows us, and loves us as we are.

Today as you wander through your day, take time to know yourself – ponder your hopes and dreams – knowing that you are worthy of all the greatest things you can imagine AND nothing is impossible with God at your side. No matter how awful your day, how terrible you have felt, or the mean things you have said, God sees it all and loves you anyway. He knows your thoughts and actions and it is never too late to grow and change, improve and serve…because character is what God knows of us!