Did you know that while he was on this earth, Jesus Christ might never have spent a day with another converted person- one who had God’s Holy Spirit dwelling within them? Even his cousin, John the Baptist, was never revealed as being a close familiar of Jesus. Instead, Jesus of Nazareth spent over thirty-three years with mostly plain, ordinary people. Some of those that he came across were, however, what we might call decent people  individuals who were considerate of the needs and welfare of others.

One such person was Joseph of Arimathaea. Joseph was a disciple of Jesus. Luke 23:50 tells us that he was a good and just (decent) man. After Jesus had died, Joseph asked Pilate for Christ’s body. He then saw to it that it was tenderly washed and wrapped in linen before being placed in the garden tomb. This account is in each of the four gospels, and they testify to the caring and compassionate act of a decent man.

What makes a person decent? What do I mean by the word decent? A dictionary definition is as follows:

Decent: Conforming to the accepted standards of what is proper; kind, generous, obliging; not immodest or obscene.

Sounds like someone with whom you could spend some time, doesn’t it? “Hanging” with a decent person probably wouldn’t put you on a path to trouble. Marrying a decent man or woman, as the case may be, would be a wise choice. Decent people make better spouses, better employees, better employers, better citizens, and better friends.

But in a time like ours  at time that is redefining morality  how do we know what “decent” behavior really is? One way to know is by the outcome of what people do. If their behavior lifts us up, makes us feel safe, loved, well, then we know their actions are decent. If, on the other hand, what they do makes us feel afraid, hurt, sick, debased, we can know their actions are indecent.

Finding a code to live by that is consistent with decency can be difficult in our time. Many new voices today are attempting to tell us how we should live, and are trying to define “decency” for us; but none have provided us with a way that brings good to all. However, there is one source that is consistent from beginning to end. That source is the Holy Bible. For thousands of years the Bible has been pointing the way to decent, wholesome living. Its moral principles have proven faultless when it comes to their impact on human society. If followed, it is easily recognized evil, as we know it today, would be erased from the earth. No disease, no famine, no wars would plague humanity; only peace, prosperity, well-being and joy would emerge from following biblical moral principles.

Even today, young people who strive to live a Bible-directed life have an advantage when it comes to being a decent person. They are aware, if they strive to live according to the principles of God’s moral laws, there is a way that defines decent behavior. They understand the laws of God are the underpinnings of decency: They know God’s laws define what is good, and they define what is bad. They also know there are blessings for doing what is right (good), and there are negative consequences for doing what is wrong (bad). Such young people have a wisdom that both protects and elevates them.

God’s laws govern both the physical and spiritual aspects of His creation. Whether human beings acknowledge them or not doesn’t matter. The consequences of obeying or disobeying God’s great moral laws work upon every person every day. Breaking them tears down the moral fiber of an individual, making it ever harder to adhere to a decent standard. As the saying goes, one thing leads to another: a little cheating on the spouse leads to a big divorce! On the other hand, adhering to a high moral standard supports a person’s life on every plane. Faithfulness In the marriage, for example, insures a stable home, stable kids, a stable society.

According to the Bible a decent person doesn’t lie, steal, or murder. Instead, he or she speaks the truth, gives to others and protects and values human life. That is a standard that is recognized as worthy by most, but not all, cultures. Such standards make sense to a logical, thinking person. The consequences of people lying, stealing and killing are all around us. When decent standards are violated, people suffer; and when we feel the impact of such evil doings, we are able to make a connection between the suffering and the broken standard.

There are other standards -- standards of decency -- defined by God’s laws as well; and they are just as relevant as the three listed above. They are just as true, yet people don’t always connect the breaking of them with suffering. Does the average, logical, thinking person believe that having another god before the true God, committing adultery, or being covetous lead to suffering? Probably not. The negative consequences of doing so are not always as immediate as are the consequences of theft and murder. But even though the consequences are not always immediate or clearly seen, they are sure. Violent religious practices, broken homes, lust that eventually leads to harming oneself or others  these all result from the breaking of those less obvious standards of “decency”.

The Bible is filled with scriptures that show those who do lead the “decent” life  the way of God’s law  are richly rewarded, both in this life and in the life to come:

Psalm 119:1-2 –Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD! Vs 2- Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!!

The entire 119th chapter of the book of Psalms—all one-hundred-seventy-six verses—speaks of the blessings and protection that come from following God’s standard of decent conduct. Doing so can be likened to driving along a particularly dangerous stretch of highway where there are guardrails beside the road. Maybe the road is a winding highway with a sheer drop-off of hundreds of feet. The railings are there to keep you from careening off the road. Were those guardrails placed there to cut down on your driving pleasure; or were they put there to enhance your pleasure, and to assure your safe arrival at your destination? The answer is obvious.

God’s great moral standard built upon his law is no different. If you respect and adhere to it, God’s way will keep you from careening off into unimaginable suffering; it will guide you through the curves and switchbacks of life; it will keep you solidly on the road; and in time it will bring you to the destination you were born for.

Psalm 19: 7-11 tells us:

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned, And in keeping them there is great reward.

Just as when Jesus Christ was on this earth, the vast majority of people in the world today live without moral guardrails. The people you interact with during the course of your day are, for the most part, operating under their own code of moral conduct, just as the people in Christ’s day were. Some people you come across may behave in a decent manner toward others because they have somehow learned a few right principles. Some won’t. If the person is not a decent individual, you’ll feel it. If he or she is decent, you will feel that too.

If your life were transported back to a time two thousand years ago, do you suppose you would have been one of those few human beings who responded decently to Christ? Hopefully, you would have. But you need to make sure, and the only way you can do that is to learn about God’s great moral way and adhere to it. Then you can be sure you will live life as a decent human being.