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"On Reputation"When the Salvation Army was in its infancy William Booth was bitterly attacked in the press. One day his son showed him a newspaper clipping of a particularly vicious attack. The General replied, "Bramwell, fifty years from now it will matter very little how these people treated us; it will matter a great deal how we did the work of God."Time has a way of sorting out the truth. Critics have their moment. They spew their venom and are forgotten. A good reputation endures and eventually the dirt falls away and the noble elements remain. Indeed, there are no statues to critics, but statues in honor of General Booth abound. Why is that? Perhaps William Booth followed this advice from Peter: “Having your conversation (conduct) honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 2:12).Sometimes identifying yourself as a Christian is tantamount to painting a bulls-eye on your forehead. But you have such a reputation for honesty, hard-work, humility, grace, and forgiveness--that people automatically reject the criticism. They know you better than that. On the larger scale, however, is the realization that my reputation either makes Christ look good, or really bad. Listen, when you’re a Christian, people watch you like a hawk to see what Christ is like. When they see your good works, God is glorified, even by the heathen. When your reputation stinks, people turn away from Christ in disgust.Your reputation is Christ’s reputation. Seek the powerful assistance of the Holy Spirit this morning so you can truly make Jesus look good today.