My Dad often reminisced about the days (50+ years ago) when he was in business and closed large deals on a handshake. He bought and sold thousands of dollars worth of livestock without written contracts or lawyers. His word was good enough, backed by his reputation of integrity. I miss those days! When Bev and I bought our home, we signed a stack of documents that was at least 2 inches tall, just for one sale. Even our church has to have a lawyer on retainer to help us negotiate our way through a society that now insists on every transaction being signed, notarized, and doubly witnessed.
The late Ray Stedman says that the fourth mark of the authentic Christian is an unimpeachable integrity that comes from knowing our lives are open to God’s eyes that miss nothing. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God." (2 Corinthians 2:14-17, NIV)
Are your daily actions sincere? That word comes from a Latin phrase, "sine cera" which means 'without wax.' Seems that it came from the potters and sculptors of the ancient world. If you had spent time molding and firing a pot only to discover cracks that marred its usefulness, you could quickly make the pot marketable by heating some wax and pressing it into the cracks before finishing the item. Goofed on an expensive block of marble? Mix a little marble dust into some wax and cover your mistake. Initially, no one would know that the item was flawed. However, craftsman who was in business for the long haul, who wanted repeat customers, advertised that his products were 'sine cera!' - without wax.
Authentic Christians are not content with superficial words, with shallow devotions, and unexamined motives. They are passionate about being the same in secret as they are in church, about making sure that what they do aligns with what they claim to believe. They allow the Spirit of God to use the powerful Word to surgically correct the flaws in character, so that they are people of integrity – the same all the way through! "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, NIV)
Integrity allows the disciple to live transparently, a liberating fact. He does not need two vocabularies- one for church and one for work. He does not worry about anyone accessing his computer’s browsing history. He never needs to worry that he is in a place where he thinks - “I hope no one sees me here.” When he is going through struggles and/or temptation, he has no need to pretend to be better than he is and freely asks for support and advice. He is a person of integrity – the same inside and out; not perfect, but honest to man and God.
Here’s a word from the Word. In it, we are directed to act consistently with our prayers, to make the choices that reflect our beliefs. Remembering, believing is more than thinking something is true. It is acting in a way that is consistent with our faith.
"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1:5-8, NIV) If we lack integrity, saying we believe one thing, but living as though we believe another, we are robbed of the steady, stable life promised to those who live wholly holy before the Lord.
______________
Father in Heaven,
I live in a word of image and impression.
I am tempted to take my cue from the culture,
to pretend and to ‘dress up’ to hide my insecurities and my sins.
Help me to be a man of integrity-
Honest before You and those with whom I live.
Thank You for the wonderful promise that
You know me best and love me most!
Let me know the security that comes from Your
amazing grace; and from that rock,
learn to live without fear, sincerely –
A life of integrity that honors You.
In Jesus’ Name – Amen.
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