There is No Middle!

Policy & Standards

In the Information Security world, everything you design is based on the policy and standards adopted by the institution. You cannot work on any design that does not respect to the detail the policy of the company. The audit teams (both internal and external) are there to make sure that all the controls are in total compliance with the policy and standards of the institution and the governing bodies of the institution: there is NO MIDDLE in the compliance! As a matter of fact, this is one of the key challenges faced by Information Security departments. It is worth stating that non-compliance with the policy and standards brings a very low security score and associated penalties!

Now, think of the Word of God and the way we comply to it. Most of the time, we tend to cut corners to avoid full compliance. That is very wrong!

There Is No Middle With God

As it is clearly stated in the Bible, compliance with the Word of God is absolute and complete.

First, we need to know that the Word of God is true and complete. Deuteronomy 4:2 illustrates this in a very simple and straight way– "Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you." This verse is telling us that we have a policy and standards that are complete and do not need any modification! They should be taken as is!

Revelation 22:18-19 goes further and gives us a clear warning – "I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll."

Next, we need to remember that our compliance with the Word of God must be total. There is not acceptable middle in this compliance. Either we are fully compliant, or we are not! James 1:22 is very clear on the application of the Word of God – "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

The following verse Joshua 1:8, prescribes that we keep the Word of God always handy and that we read it all the time – "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." It is quite interesting as this passage tallies so well with the time we take to review our cybersecurity policy and standards in order to build the controls that fully comply with them! Well, God already prescribed this approach before we were born!

We therefore cannot adopt a “middle” position with God. We may think that we are very wise but at the end of the day, we shall discover the bitter truth as stated in the verses above.  We gain a lot by abiding to the Word of God and fully putting it in practice. See what Matthew 7:24 tells us – "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." Do you want to build your house on a moving sand and qualify as a foolish man?

Call for action

Let us take the path of victory and success that God has built for us. Let us practice God’s word in all the action, speech, thought we have in our life. And to be able to practice His Word, we need to know it first. Therefore, read the Bible every day and take note of the passages that hit you deep inside. These are indicators of the areas you need to pay attention to by meditating and reviewing how these arears are being translated into real life.

Remember, you cannot follow two (02) masters! Either you are with God, or you are not: Matthew 6:24: "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

God bless you! 

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