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Integrity

My friend John asked for suggestions for blog topics. Knowing that he tends to have deep blog posts (with the exception of the Pirates song), I suggested "integrity" for his next topic. (Click here to go to John's blog. But finish reading mine first, ok?) Since I needed to post something on my blog as well, we agreed to blog on the same topic. And post it tonight.

I suppose I could have backed out, and chosen a different topic, or not blogged at all, but then, what would that say about my integrity?

Not quite sure where to start, I went to dictionary.com, and found out what "integrity" is, and found out that it's defined as:

1. adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty.
2. the state of being whole, entire, or undiminished.
3. a sound, unimpaired, or perfect condition.

It came as no surprise that my picture was not next to the word ... I don't always stick to moral and ethical principles ... I'll be honest -- I'm not always honest ... If I were "undiminished" I'd have accomplished "great things" already in my life ... I sometimes don't feel "whole" ... and I am definitely am not "perfect" ... I don't always follow through with what I say I will do, or with what people expect of me. Oh, I try, but I have more failures than I can count.

If entry into heaven were based on what qualities we possess, I think Integrity would be one of the requirments. On our own, we can't live up to the perfect level of integrity that the God of the Universe requires and deserves. And since God wants us all to go to heaven, I think he'd be pretty lonely up there, all by himself.

I can only think of one person who fits that definition (sorry, Mom & Dad, not you, but you're almost at the top of the list). That person is Jesus Christ. We have a model of what integrity is supposed to look like. But we fall short of that standard. When we confess our sins and failures to live as people of integrity and accept Jesus into our hearts, and change our ways to follow his example, we also are forgiven of that shortfall. He becomes our "lifeline," making us blameless and perfect in God's sight.

"For God so loved the world (you and me) that he gave his one and only Son (Jesus) so that whoever (you and me) believes in him shall not perish, but (you and I) will have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world (you and me) but to save the world (you and me) through him."

I need my Savior so much!


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