Integrity! It's Character!

Integrity! Read Character!

We are told in USA Today, April 9, 1997:
"Scientists now say that a series of slits, not a giant gash, sank the Titanic. The opulent, 900-foot cruise ship sank in 1912 on its first voyage, from England to New York. Fifteen hundred people died in the worst maritime disaster of the time."

Integrity! Read Character!

We are told in USA Today, April 9, 1997:
"Scientists now say that a series of slits, not a giant gash, sank the Titanic. The opulent, 900-foot cruise ship sank in 1912 on its first voyage, from England to New York. Fifteen hundred people died in the worst maritime disaster of the time."
"The most widely held theory was that the ship hit an iceberg, which opened a huge gash in the side of the liner. But an international team of divers and scientists recently used sound waves to probe the wreckage, buried in the mud under two-and-a-half miles of water. Their discovery? The damage was surprisingly small. Instead of the huge gash, they found six relatively narrow slits across the six watertight holds."

"Small damage, invisible to most, can sink not only a great ship but a great reputation."

Are you passing the "test" of this life when it comes to your character, your integrity?
Even when we come across test questions that seem simple on the surface, we find that they’re often not as simple as we first thought. For instance, the answer to the question, "How long did the Hundred Years War last?’ seems obvious, but the answer is 116 years. When a test asks, "Which country manufactures Panama hats?" the correct answer is Equador. Here’s another: From what animal do we get cat gut? From sheep and horses of course. In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? November. What was King George IV’s first name? Well, everyone knows it was Albert. Ah yes...many test takers are glad to be out of school...far away from trick questions like that thought up in some teacher’s lounge.

But as far as we try to get from the rigors of the academic life, we find our lives are filled with other kinds of tests. We take driver’s tests, drug tests, polygraph tests, sobriety tests, eye tests, entrance exams. People in law enforcement have to qualify on the shooting range at least four times a year, many of you have to take a test for your chosen profession. Like it or not, tests are a part of life.

But is there a test to determine whether a person is on the right track spiritually? Yes! Are you maintaining a life of integrity?

Definition of Integrity:
INTEG'RITY, n.

1.  Wholeness; entireness; unbroken state.
2. The entire, unimpaired state of any thing, particularly of the mind; moral soundness or purity; incorruptness; uprightness; honesty. Integrity comprehends the whole moral character, but has a special reference to uprightness in mutual dealings, transfers of property,and agencies for others.
3. Purity; genuine, unadulterated, unimpaired state;

Integrity...this a character trait that sure seems to be lacking these days. How is it that so many Christian people seem to do and say that which is un-Christian, un-biblical, and even downright false, and yet, do so without the least bit fear of God? It amazes me! People can lie, speak & act improperly, and do so with such ease.

I think it really must nauseate God more than we even realize, even tho we are told so in Revelation 3 when writing to the Church in Laodicea.

Our political leadership lacks integrity. Sometimes Christians lack integrity, and sadly, sometimes even Pastors lack integrity!

Strive to live your life and lead your ministry with integrity so that when you stand before God at the judgment seat of Christ you will not stand there naked and ashamed. Speak the truth, do the right thing and teach those under your leadership to do so as well.