Rosa Parks' refusal in 1955 to give her bus seat to a white man in Montgomery, Alabama, was a turning point in the civil rights struggle. So in 1994, the public was stunned when 80-year-old Rosa was robbed and mugged in her home by an intruder. A short time later, an alert citizen recognized the suspect from a police photo and with a friend held Rosa's mugger until police could arrive.

But the public spotlight was not good for the new hero. After he gave a TV interview, FBI agents recognized him as a fugitive from the law. They arrested him for driving the getaway car in a 1991 robbery of an automatic teller machine.

This incident illustrates the truth that unresolved sin can rob a person of the honor of being known for doing good. This is why Paul emphasized in 1 Timothy 3 how important it is for church leaders to have a good conscience and a blameless record of dealing with their own sin. Those who want to be known for walking with Christ must face and deal with anything that would disqualify them from receiving that honor.

Living with a good conscience isn't just a religious and moral obligation. It's the only way to be able to walk with Christ in the spotlight of a watching world.  — Mart De Haan