I was able to attend a church service this morning honoring a long-time and close friend.  I have known him since I was very young.  This man has been a true friend and confidante throughout the years.  He has been a stable source in my life and in the lives of others.  I have worked with and for him, stood beside him in ministry, and I was even there when both of his sons were born.  When I look back, he has been there for me when I probably didn’t deserve it…but that’s what friends do, isn’t it?

While sitting and listening to all of the honor that was being spoken about him and his wife, I began to ask myself what “honor” really was.  I began to search for definitions for “honor.”  Most definitions describe it as someone’s good actions that make them honorable.  Wikipedia says, “Honor is deemed exactly what determines a person’s character: whether or not the person reflects honesty, respect, integrity, or fairness. Accordingly, individuals are assigned worth and stature based on the harmony of their actions, code of honor, and that of the society at large.”  According to Warf on Star Trek, honor is a code of rules that you live by and defend, even to the death.  Many people have gotten into fights defending their honor or even the honor of a sister or wife.  One very famous duel was the Burr-Hamilton Duel which took place on July 11th, 1804.  This duel took place because of many years of animosity building up between the two men, both politicians, and both very much set against destroying the other politically and personally.  What resulted was Hamilton being mortally wounded and dying the next day; all in the name of honor.

What determines a person’s honor?  On a broader level, honor is a code of actions that we follow that have been passed down within our family or country.  On a personal level, honor can be the consistency of our actions over a period of time.  The Bible says that those who labor in the Word are worthy of double honor.  It also says to honor our fathers and mothers.  This is also the first commandment with a promise.  When we honor our father and mother, our days will be long.

I believe it is important to live honorably and to honor those deserving of it.  A nation, people, or church cannot fully thrive until it learns to honor those who have gone before and paved a path.  I try to honor my dad in the things that I do that were passed down to me from him.  I try to honor the forefathers of this nation by walking in respect and reverence for those things that they established during the formation of this great nation.  I try to honor God by walking in the precepts of His Word and living an example of justice and grace.  To veer away from any of this shows disrespect and contempt for the one who gave it to us, whether it came through our parents, the founders of this nation, or through the Almighty.  To dishonor my father would cause me great pain because I love my father and believe in what he taught me.  To dishonor the founders of the United States could cause me to lose the freedoms that I so richly enjoy because of them.  To dishonor my God would be like slapping Him in the face and telling Him that I don’t need Him or His love which He so willingly provided and proved to me through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

While not endorsing a candidate or person, I am so blessed to see someone doing something about this.  I personally don’t agree with everything Glen Beck says, but I do believe that he is doing everything he can to bring this nation back from the eve of destruction.  On August 28th, an event will take place in Washington D.C. called “Restoring Honor.”  People from all over this nation will travel to show their appreciation for our founding fathers and honor them with their actions.  I’m not telling you to go but I do believe that there is more to this than just a day on the National Park.  As Americans, we need to restore something to our nation that has been lost….HONOR.  We are the butt of jokes around the world.  Despite all of our humanitarian efforts, other nations look at us with contempt.  No one trusts us.  We don’t even trust us.  America is no long the land of the free and home of the brave.  It’s time for a change!

As much as I personally believe in changing the course of this nation, I don’t believe it can happen until we first restore honor to the house of God.  The nation is a reflection of the church.  Of course there are those who honor God.  I’m not doubting that.  However, we cannot legislate morality or honor.  It is something that must come from the heart.  Until our actions are in line with what we say we believe, honor will not come to the church or the U.S.  Today, let us began to say what we believe and believe what we say and act like we mean it.  Let us honor God in all that we do.  Businesses, honor God in your dealings.  Parents, honor God in your relationship with your children.  Children, honor God by honoring your parents, whether you think they deserve it or not.  Workers, honor God by honoring your boss and the company you work for.  Politicians, honor God by honoring the Founders and showing respect to those who put you there.  Ultimately, any time you honor someone, you are honoring God for putting them into your life and allowing them to pave the path for you.

“If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.”
John 12.26