Walk in Integrity

"Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out" (Prov. 10:9, ESV).

There is no escaping the eye of the Lord.  There is no way to slip into sin unnoticed.  Sure our friends and family might not immediately notice the drift in our lives, but God sees.  This verse reminds us of this important truth.  The only way to have an easy conscience (that isn't seared by sin) is to walk in integrity.

Integrity is moral soundness.  Integrity is moral soundness of the whole person.  The author of Proverbs isn't concerned with making moralistic people, but making followers of the Lord.  Proverbs appears to be written to train individuals to walk in "the fear of the LORD."  Walking in the fear of the Lord refers to living in reverential obedience to the revealed will of God.  Thus, to walk in integrity is to walk in reverential obedience to the Lord.

To walk in integrity is to walk securely, that is to walk with confidence.  We can be confident that God accepts us because we are doing what he has told us pleases him.  We can walk with confidence in the knowledge that he will forgive us of our unrighteousness, if we will confess and repent.

However, no confidence exists for those whose way is crooked.  More specifically, those who go out of their way to make their ways crooked will be exposed.  Their sins will eventually come out.  All of their stealth and planning will come to nothing.  On an instinctive level, they sense this.

They move about waiting for the other shoe to drop.  They are always watching over their shoulders, wondering if they will get caught.  As time wears on, they mistake the patience of God for blindness, and they begin to let their guard down.  They start to settle into their crookedness with ease.  They may even begin to think they will never be discovered.

Sometimes their hearts convince them that they are the cleverest individual to ever live.  Their consciences are dull with misuse.  As they continue on in their sin, their hearts get harder and harder. They begin to walk in confidence, only it is a false confidence.  They move about as if they were untouchable.  Then, in a moment the bottom falls out, and they are caught.  Then there are press conferences to acknowledge guilt, or tell-all books to expose and expunge their misdeeds.  Some individuals slip under the radar for years, some even for a lifetime, but rest assured, God will not let sin go unpunished.

What about you?  Are you walking in integrity?  Is your confidence in the Lord's ability to enable you to live for his good pleasure? Or are you confident you won't get caught?