Who Are You?

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (ESV)

    In this verse Paul sums up the true meaning of character. To define this word in my words I would say character is who you are when no one is around. When no one is looking, how do you act? This is your real character. I think by the way Paul addresses the church of Philippi we see that Paul understood the importance of being genuine. Or being through and through. Who you see is who I am. Not playing a role to look good on the surface when your around others, and then throwing those morals and values out the window when there is no accountability. For you might be good at holding the appearance of someone who is holy, but God sees right through. He sees into the core of our being, into the true desires of our heart, our thoughts, our motivations and actions. Paul is saying how much more then should you obey in his absence, if what God is concerned with is our true character, who we are through and through.
    I take the second part of the verse as an application to the exhortation in the first part. In the sense that our salvation, our work should be done on a personal level. If we are trying to earn our salvation by faking to be someone were not around our friends at church, then what is the point? Maybe its because you feel good when you feel bad, when your convicted and it bothers you, you start to feel warm. Like your close to God, but then what, you walk out of the building drive down the street, and out come the cigarettes, on comes the secular music, and look who’s calling, your buddy you used to drink with and you agree to just “hang out” with him. What is the point in living a life like this. God sees right through your fake smiles at church, he sees right through your self pity and sorrow. What God is looking for is a genuine heart, broken, at the end of himself and ready for a true change from the inside out. A true recognition of what’s deserved and a Godly repentance, leading to a change of heart, not change of appearance, not more cologne to hide the cigarettes, or to delete the messages from your phone, or to clean out your stash. Because those things will burn either way, whether your possessing them or not, and all that will be left is your soul and the true character within.
    So my conviction is to start working on the things that I harbor deep within. The bitterness, the pride, the grumbling and the conceit. Its time to start working towards things that will remain on the day of salvation. Things that will withstand the fire testing. Doing this with respect and love through a proper knowledge of who God is, his wrath, justice and righteousness. With a fear and trembling, knowing that one day, at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, and what will you have to offer for your salvation is absolutely nothing. Nothing but the blood of Christ, that washes us white as snow upon confession of sin and a belief and acceptance of the name Jesus Christ. So that means we stop trying then right? Once we have accepted Christ we go back to our old life and live in his grace. This would not be holding a proper knowledge of God. But we do as Peter said, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Peter 1:13-16).
 
Application:
I know there are things about my character my heart is hardened to, like the proverb says, “the heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.” I need to genuinely soften my heart before the heart before the Lord and ask those around me for forgiveness of my actions.