INTEGRITY
By Lahry Sibley
My daddy defined INTEGRITY as “doing the right thing, because it is the right thing
to do, no matter if others are watching or not”. I have not been able to improve that
definition.
Just this morning, I happened to be thinking about that. Then it came to mind, that
living the Christian life is like that. We obey God, because it is the right thing to do,
no matter if we are being observed or not. After all, who we are when we are alone
is an excellent indicator of “who we really are”. Did I say that right? I hope so.
Obeying our Holy God is the right thing to do. Those who live in the habit of doing
what they are supposed to do only when others are present, are living by the flesh,
not by the Spirit. For the Spirit of God leads and guides into all truth. The truth is
that we are to obey God rather than man.
Now for all you kind folks who would call me “legalist”; those who claim that they
are under grace and not under the law (zero integrity, they don’t care about the
right thing, no matter if anyone is watching or not); those who acclaim they are
incapable of not sinning intentionally, I have a few scripture verses for you, and a
couple questions to ask you, if I may.
Philippians 4:13 (Amplified Bible)
I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything
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and equal to anything through Him Who [a]infuses inner strength into me; I am [b]self-
sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
So….if you are not strong enough to do what is right, to obey God in all that He
commands, could we suggest that quite possibly you are not as “in Christ” as you
have been led to believe?
John 15:5 (Amplified Bible)
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I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much
(abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do
nothing.
Could it be that your inability to bear fruits of righteousness and holiness is
attributed to the obvious conclusion that you are not abiding in the True Vine, but
are abiding apart from Him as a religious person, with no true Christian integrity?
Matthew 19:26 (Amplified Bible)
But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are
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possible with God.
Does Jesus Himself mean that all things are possible with God EXCEPT STOPPING
WILLFUL SIN IN YOUR LIFE? (sin being the transgression of God’s law) True, it is
impossible for a yet carnal unsaved man to live obedient, righteous and holy. But what
about “with God”? Are you bold enough to call Jesus a liar? If it says “all things”, guess
what? It means “ALL THINGS”. Would not obedience unto God be included in “all
things”? Are your reasons for “compromise” excluded from “all things”. If you are still
struggling, doing the things you would not do, and not doing the things that you would
do, can it be that you may not be “with God” and not “in Christ Jesus”? This to me is
quite sobering. I hope it is for you as well.
Mark 9:23 (Amplified Bible)
And Jesus said, [You say to Me], If You can do anything? [Why,] all things can be (are
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possible) to him who believes!
Another witness against those who claim they cannot help but sin. Is there perhaps
something wrong with your beliefs?
Luke 18:27 (Amplified Bible)
But He said, What is impossible with men is possible with God.
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Simple, and true. If you find obedience impossible, you just may have a counterfeit
understanding of what Christian faith is all about.
Maybe that is why John wrote this in the middle of Revelation…..
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are the ones keeping the commands
of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Who are saints? Are they not those “keeping the commands of God, and the faith of
Jesus”?
So, I think it is important that here and now we ask ourselves, is our eternal hope
based on hearsay, or on what God says and has revealed to us in His Word? Could
anything be more important than this? Selah! - Lahry