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Honest to God #1

On April 15,1912 the Titanic was sunk by an iceberg.  Other ships had hit similar icebergs and survived. The Titanic had a double thick steel hull that made it virtually impossible to sink.

Some who have studied the sinking of the Titanic credit the sinking of the ship to inferior rivets used to hold the steel plates in place. Everything else about the ship was magnificent - but the rivets that held it together were deficient.

Talent and hard work can take you places - but we all need character and integrity to sustain us.

Character, integrity, and honesty are like the rivets that hold our lives together.

“He who walks in integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will be found out.”   - Proverbs 10:9

“For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”   - John 1:17

Websters Dictionary defines Integrity:

1. The state or quality of being entire or complete; wholeness; entireness; unbroken state; as, the integrity of an empire or territory

2. Moral soundness; honesty; freedom without corrupting influence or motive

Building a great life requires integrity of heart.

“O LORD, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill? He who walks with integrity, and works righteousness, And speaks truth in his heart.”   - Psalm 15:1-2

Gravity is true. Electricity is true. It’s not a rule you keep. It’s a law – a principle – you cooperate with.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood, And has not sworn deceitfully.”   - Psalm 24:3-4

1. Clean hands: What you do

Clean hands are a manifestation of a clean heart.

The best way to stay healthy is to keep clean hands. The only way to keep clean hands is to wash them. Wash your hands often.

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”   - 1 John 1:8-9

Confession requires us to be truthful – truthful with ourselves and with God.  God is faithful to forgive, but He will not forgive excuses – He will forgive confession. 

2. Pure heart: Who you are on the inside

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8

Your eyes - the way you see things - are affected by your heart. You don’t see the world as it is – you see the world as you are.  Your outlook depends on what you are looking out from.

Whatever is in your heart determines how you see God, people, life… If your heart is full of suspicion or insecurity – you see everyone out to get you.  If your heart is envious – you hate to see others blessed.  If your heart is full of love – you will see things to love about people.  If your heart is full of abundance – you will see opportunities everywhere. 

3. Has not lifted his soul to falsehood: Doesn’t lie to himself

Don’t kid yourself.

"The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”  - Matthew 6:22-23

If the light in you is darkness – you are kidding yourself!  One of the best – and sometimes most painful – things I can do is to be honest with myself.

Can I be truthful with this question: Is the way I am thinking about work, money, relationships, ministry, and God actually working?

4. Has not sworn deceitfully: True to your word

Say what you mean - mean what you say.

“He swears to his own hurt, and does not change.”   - Psalm 15:4

Let’s get a revelation of the beauty of the truth.  Let’s be lovers of the truth!