Integrity matters

This spring we looked for a car. A reliable used car. It’s been years since our last search. The integrity of the car—and the car salesman—matters. It did then. It does today.

But car-shopping has changed. Now you can shop online and find a fairly detailed history of the vehicle you’re interested in. The number of owners. Where it’s been registered. If it’s been in any accidents or had any recalls.

Are there any dents, scratches, or chipped paint? There’s a “360-degree” visual of the exterior and the interior. Most of the research is accomplished before you ever set eyes on the car or take it out for a drive. 

Back in the day, someone could hide a vehicle’s history. Make it look good. Hit all the sales points with conviction. We searched for a trustworthy used car salesman. Wondered if the car was truly as good on the inside as it looked on the outside.

Integrity matters.

Sobering days

As the car search continued, my twitter feed flooded with news of fallen leaders in the evangelical world.  

There were articles on God’s judgment of our pride and arrogance.  A sobering call to repentance and transparency. An urgency to uncover any slippery attempts to justify or sweep away wrong-doing for the sake of keeping up appearances.  

Exposure of the hidden is extra painful in the era of viral videos and rapid distribution of news and commentary across the world-wide-web.  

The integrity of used cars suddenly pales in comparison. These are sobering days.

Integrity matters.

Clearly defined

In the storm of articles and posts and tweets, I consider the meaning of integrity. The first definition I find is “the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness.” The second definition informs the first. Clarifies. “The state of being whole and undivided.”  

Integrity is the true and right permeating the whole. It makes one trustworthy. 

How accomplished we humans are at “keeping up appearances.” Hiding the real story. Taking small steps toward compromise. Speaking one thing and doing another. Heading down a path of self-righteousness and arrogance. 

When sin remains, hidden here and there, it clouds our hearts and minds. Interrupts true fellowship with our Holy God and one another. 

Integrity matters.

Surely You desire integrity

God describes David as a man who walked before Him with a heart of integrity. A man who walked in what was right, doing everything He commanded him (1 Kings 9:4). 

Yet we all know about the adultery, the betrayal, the murder. 

It takes a wake-up call from a prophet’s parable to open David’s eyes. And when the king realizes he is the man in the parable, his first words to Nathan are simply, “I have sinned against the Lord.” 

He doesn’t defend himself. 

He doesn’t try to cover up what he’s done.  

In Psalm 51 he calls it what it is: rebellion, sin, evil. And remembers, “Surely You desire integrity in the inner self and You teach me wisdom deep within” (v. 6).

Integrity matters to God.

The sacrifice pleasing to God

David asks the Lord to purify and cleanse him. To create a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit within him. He longs for God’s presence.

In the season of his rebellion had he noticed the loss? The silence? Was he going through the motions without truly seeking the face of God? 

In repentance, he acknowledges that ritual sacrifice is not going to cut it. The solely external religious appearance will not fly in the presence of Lord God Most Holy. 

“The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit.
You will not despise a broken and humbled heart, God” (Psalm 51:17). 

Integrity matters. 

Grace and mercy 

I remember the times of rebellion in my own life. Small steps of compromise taken while ignoring that inner warning.  Outwardly, I looked good, going through the motions. Inside I was arrogant, self-focused, claiming entitlement in my self-righteousness. 

I’m thankful for a kind and loving Father who didn’t let me stay there. He exposed my faulty reasoning, pride, and rebellion with the relentless light of His Word. And the faithful questions of friends. Such grace. And mercy.

“Therefore, since we have this ministry because we were shown mercy, we do not give up. Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful things, not acting deceitfully or distorting the word of God, but commending ourselves before God to everyone’s conscience by an open display of the truth” (2 Corinthians 4:1-2).

An open display of the truth.

Integrity matters.

What about you?

Have you ever found yourself hiding sin? Making excuses for your rebellion? How did God give you a wake-up call?  

“Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Related posts: Repent and believe; Begin to know Him now