Who we really are is what we do and how we behave when no one is watching.
Many folks who have come to Key West for Fantasy Fest, and they get caught up in the festivities and the low moral standards which have become synonymous with Fantasy Fest, and they say that they would never ever act like that back home where everyone knows them. Now, that reveals a problem in the integrity department.
It’s the old saying, “when I’m not with the one that I love, I love the one I’m with”….
If you spell “INTEGRITY” the first three letters are “I.N.T.” They stand for “I Need Truthfulness”…..
James 3:10 “Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. v11 Can a fountain send forth both sweet water and bitter? v12 Can the fig tree, bear olive berries? Neither can a vine, bear figs. Likewise, no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh”.
In the tradition of the mountain region of Tibet, if you met one of the locals, you would give a proper Tibeton greeting to them and they would return the same to you. The proper greeting was to stick out your tongue as far as possible. The reason for this strange greeting was to show the other person that there were no harsh or bitter words on your tongue. There was nothing that would be against them or that would hurt them. You greet them with friendliness, encouragement and hope. I like that. (Let’s all try that now… Give your neighbor the Tibet greeting)!
One of the most effective ways that we will win folks to the cause of Christ, is a life that is lived with integrity.
Integrity comes from the Latin word ‘integer’ which means whole and complete. So integrity requires an inner sense of ‘wholeness’ and consistency of character, or “internal consistency”. Would you turn to someone and say… “Oh, I. C., Internal consistency”! When you have integrity, people should be able to visibly see it through your actions, words, decisions, methods, and outcomes. When you are ‘whole’ and consistent, there is only one you. You bring that same YOU wherever YOU are, regardless of the circumstance. You don’t leave parts of yourself behind. You don’t have a ‘work you,’ a ‘family you,’ and a ‘social you.’ You are YOU all of the time.
Proverbs 11:3 "The integrity of the upright preserves them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their double minds." So, why a golf picture for this scripture….in 1925 Bobby Jones accidentally touched his ball and moved it just a fraction of an inch during the U.S. Open golf tournament. No one saw or knew of the incident but even though no one saw it, he notified an official and received a one stroke penalty. That one stroke cost him the U.S. Open championship… he lost by one stroke. He was willing to put a greater value on his integrity than he put on winning the U.S. Open. Most professional golfers will say, he had the most integrity of any golfer of all time.
When the New Testament gives the account of the church selecting its first deacons to assist the apostles in ministering among the people… look at one of the most important qualities the Holy Spirit directed them to look for in….Acts6:3 “Wherefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (filling the gap between the apostles ministry and the people’s daily needs).
Here are some things that people of integrity will do consistently as they live out their lives….
They will always remain true to their core beliefs and values in their behavior and their decisions. They reflect those values and beliefs in a deliberate and intentional manner as they sense how it will affect and impact those who look to them as an example.
When Psychologists measure the level of maturity in an individual, they ask questions which will indicate whether or not the person is aware of the impact of their actions on others around them. Just as a boater must be aware of the impact their wake will make on other boats anchored in the harbor.
If you have ever seen the program on TV called “Monk”, you can understand why I can only take so much of his character. He’s a brilliant detective, but his social skills and awareness of his actions upon others is totally dysfunctional. The captain is constantly having to intervene in his behalf, because everyone wants to stone him or at least get away!!!.
A teacher was helping her student with his spelling words and asked if he knew the difference between “conscious” and “conscience.” He said, “Sure, ‘conscious’ is when you’re aware of something; ‘conscience’ is when you wish you weren’t.”
When a person has integrity, they say what they mean and they mean what they say. When they say they will do something, you can count on it, even if it is not easy.
Daniel in the bible, was a good little kosher boy who was taken captive by the Babylonians into a strange land with different customs, a different language and different religions than those that he had grown up under, as a young man. He was raised to fear the God of Israel, to obey strict Jewish dietary, social and religious laws. In one day, everything changed. He could now do all the things he was forbidden to do before. He no longer had to pray three times a day, he could eat anything he wanted, drink anything he wanted, with no priests, or parents to run his life. No one was looking over his shoulder, no one was looking!
We live in a changing world and sometimes we find ourselves away from those that might normally pressure us to do the right thing. We go off to college, move to a new town, or start a new job. You can "relax and let your hair down" with your new friends and work associates. You’re in a place where no one is looking. There are some choices we must make and some things we must settle within ourselves, way before we get to the place and the circumstances that we have to make some of those decisions. Integrity means that we will honor the promises we make, even though we may not like the direction it may take us because we care aboutsomeone else and what they care about.
The flip side of this is, that if you live your life to please others, and you live based on what others think, then you will fall apart and crash and burn when you are criticized by those same people that you lived to please.
We will all get from life what we are willing to give back to life.
It is the little things we are faithful in, that prove we can be trusted in the bigger things.
Folks who always show up late, whose lives are always in disarray, and whose lives always seem to be out of control… and live from one emergency to the next…. Listen, they don’t have a planning or scheduling problems, they have an integrity problem. There is no consistency of character, or internal consistency, so it is constantly reflected in their outer environment… They are surrounded by upheavel, unrest, unsettledness, and chaos….
The truth is that our lives are constantly reflecting our values and showcasing our integrity or it is revealing our lack of it.
We hear of many who have experienced love at first sight, because they want it and they want it NOW….and then realized they should have taken a second look. How many young peoplehave finally met their perfect match, until they get to know them better.
A couple went into a crowded KFC and ordered a picnic box to go. In the rush of customers a clerk handed them their order, accepted payment and went on their way. But what no one realized was that in all the rush, the clerk had accidentally handed them the picnic box which the manager used to put the days finances for bank deposit. He did this each day because he was fearful of being robbed and the KFC picnic bucket offered perfect camouflage. Well, when the couple got to the park and opened it, they saw all the money instead of chicken. Someone had made a big mistake. Now many folks would be tempted to thank God for the blessing and go on their way, but this couple jumped back in the car and returned to the restaurant, asked for the manager, and handed him the money. You can just imagine how relieved and grateful the manager was to see them and the money. He was so grateful that he asked the man to stick around because he wanted to call the newspaper and have them come and take pictures and write an article about this honest man who had such integrity. The man threw up his hands and said…No, No, No, please don’t do that” Why not, the manager asked him. “Oh, sir, I would be in such trouble that you cannot imagine…. The woman I am with is not my wife.” (S0 much for honesty and integrity)
Once you make your decision to take a stand, no matter what others may do, prepare to be tested.
Daniel 1:8 “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself”.
So you have 4 Jewish boys, Daniel, Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego, (one child called him “to bed we go”) .. who took a stand and told the prince of Eunuchs who was in charge of them. They said, let us eat bread and water for 10 days, then compare our health to those who have eaten sumptuously at the King’s table and see who looks better. (you see, at the king’s table, they would eat and drink until they threw up and then eat and drink some more, etc, etc.) It was over-indulgence in all things simply because you could!
This is the kind of atmosphere that Paul addressed when he said in
1Corinthians 10:23 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify”. The word edify in the Greek is “oy-kod-om-eh'-o” which means enlarge, build up, strengthen, and inspire to greatness!
(turn to someone and say…”Integrity looks mighty good on you”).
If you were to go to New York Harbor, one of the things you would see would be the small tug boats gently and slowly pushing, pulling and guiding the giant ocean liners. They are small in size but big in their influence on the much larger vessel because of their consistent force. They come along side and influence the path of these huge ships without fanfare or applause. They are consistent in their influence and as a result they are able to achieve huge outcomes and accomplish amazing results.
This week, you will find yourself alone where no one is looking. It is in that moment of time, that you find out what you really are like and who you really are. Will you follow God’s opinion, or the opinion of others who you have allowed to influence you.
A little boy asked his mother, "How did we all get here?" The mother told him…"Well, you see, God made Adam and Eve and they had children, and so all mankind are descended from them." Two days later, the boy asked his father the same question. The father answered, "Many years ago, there were monkeys and through the process of evolution, the *…..human race evolved." The confused boy returned to his mother and said, "Mom, how is it possible that you told me the human race was created by God, and Dad said they developed from monkeys?Without a pause, the mother answered, "Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family and your father told you about his." (if we will go to the right source for the answers, we will get the right answers to live by and we will not be deceived by Satan’s counterfeit)
So what’s the big deal about integrity…..Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt, because she lacked integrity… Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden because the serpent found a fatal flaw in their integrity… Judas will forever be known as the betrayer because he lacked integrity… Lucifer the crown prince of heaven, became Satan because he lacked integrity!
On the other hand, Jacob, the deceiver, regained his integrity at Bethel when he wrestled with the Lord (I actually believe it was his own self that Jacob was really in a battle with)… Saul transformed his reputation and his name was changed to Paul, as he encountered the risen Christ… and I think of doubting Thomas, who went from being double minded to being a radical apostle for Christ after he reached out and touched Jesus….The demon possessed man of Gadara was set free and became an evangelist for the Lord after his encounter with Christ!
It's about what we will do starting right now!
Regardless of how or when they got off track, over and over again we can see that it’s never too late for a life to turn around and get it right. No matter where they’ve been or what they’ve done, if they’re willing to allow that transformation to deeply reset their core values. Don’t give up, just keep doing the next right thing and you will reap if you don’t faint!
Paul tells the church of Rome, Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”.
Then for the rest of the 12th chapter he describes what a life of integrity should look like…. Look at it when you get home today…. It’s a powerful discourse and teaching which every Christian should use as a guidline for their lives.
We can always trace everything back to the choice we made to live within the boundaries of integrity or violate the sacred bond and grieve the Holy Spirit’s inner voice… Ministers have fallen, governments have collapsed and Nations have been destroyed because of this thing called integrity….
Lot could have chosen to pass on by Sodom and look for another city…. David could have chosen to look away when he saw Beth Sheba bathing on the roof top… Eve could have walked away from the serpents offer and we would all be in a different place….
Someone has suggested that Adam and Eve had the ideal marriage. He didn’t have to hear about all the men she could have married--and she didn’t have to hear about what a good cook his mother or his ex-wife was.
Integrity can save your life….
The bible tells us that as the nation of Israel were being led by Moses from Egyptian bondage to the promised land, an entire generation of people died in the wilderness because of a lack of integrity. I was shocked when I realized that two and a half million people left Egypt and we are told that only Joshua and Caleb entered the promised land out of all of that number… Wow!
Numbers 26:65 “For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
That tells me that integrity is not very popular….and when it is found it is a priceless treasure….
Faith is the victory that overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil, but unless faith, is anchored in integrity, it is useless…. I’m talking about God’s integrity…. Without a God of integrity, faith would have no foundation upon which to anchor itself ….
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. v2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. v3 Through faith (in God’s integrity) we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. v4 By faith (in God’s integrity) Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaks. v5 By faith (in God’s integrity) Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. v6 Butwithout faith (in God’s integrity) it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is (a God of integrity), and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”.
Many have lost their due north in the midst of the storms and pressures of life. They have fixed their gaze on the wrong things and have ended up in a place where they don’t know where to turn…. There are issues that have caused them to run up on the rocks and shipwreck…
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is”.
That’s the key…. To see Him as He is, with everything else stripped away! That’s what transformed Paul… it’s what gave Peter and Thomas a second chance…. It’s what changed the disciples from fishermen to fishers of men… When we see Him as He is, THE CURSE WILL BE LIFTED….. THE POWER OF TEMPTATION & SIN WILL LOSE IT'S GRIP….ALLSICKNESS WILL BOW AND DECLARE HIM LORD….DEATH AND THE FEAR OF DEATH, WILL BE SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY….. DISAPPOINTMENT AND DISCOURAGEMENT WILL EVAPORATE…. LUST, GREED, MALICE, JEALOUSY, & HEARTACHE WILL LOSE THEIR GRIP AND BE GONE. We live in a time in history, when reading the newspaper is like reading the book of Revelation!... Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption is drawingnigh”.
Through this living hope I have in Christ, I can declare daily….”I am free, I am happy; I am abundant in mind body and spirit, I am loved, and I am loving, Life is such a beautiful thing…I am surrounded daily with the beauty of life, I am one with God the Creator, I am fully present and in agreement as His Creation. Through His grace and mercy, I am guilt free, and I am shame free. Everything is working for my good, I trust in God's greater purposes in all things, I now choose to expand myself and my life, I now choose to be successful and happy, I now choose to be unafraid, as I move forward, I now choose to know myself fully and discover New dimensions of God's plan for and through me, I now choose wholeness and acceptance, I now choose to understand unconditional love…”
Scripture tells us to examine ourselves….Let’s take a moment today and if you’ve messed up in the integrity department, just settle it with God, and make it the next right thing you do. Pray with me today…. ”Lord, I repent and ask your forgiveness. I allow Holy Spirit to make this a learning experience and a defining moment as I process my experiences through the lens of Your truth. Let Your truth now flow through me and cause me to be strong in Your power and might. I receive the transforming work in my life now, in the name of Jesus!
