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Integrity
(Acts 24:16 May 28th, 2003)
Last April on the 21 – 24th there was pastor’s extended education on the theme of “Total Leadership”. About 50 Pastors and 9 of their children had gathered in deep unity. The atmosphere around was fresh, with the lights shining off newly spring leafs, and so was the fresh green feeling.
During the early Morning Prayer meeting, there were many pastors who have spoken in enlightening messages, and the whole group was drenched in blessing. Especially Elder ChunGeun Kim, Professor DongGun Park and Reverend YunYoung Kang who were all lecturers this year repeatedly told me how they were blessed many times. I give thanks to all those who had prepared and gave us the Word.
There is one thing that was never forgotten was of the ending. The speaker always said “Integrity! Integrity! Integrity!” The defining word of “honest” is “to be without lying and being consistent with earnestly.” In simple terms, what is inside and outside is all transparent and same. Being a Christian, being honest is like how we confess our religion and how we live by it. One thing that is unique about honest people is that they do not overlook even the smallest of things. The things people say while passing by, using something in the office for personal usage, taxpaying, small jokes with co-workers, sometimes a small white-lie that has to be told, unknown hypocrisy to neighbors, breaking promises, etc. is not to be bothering. But honesty in small choices would shape and form one’s integrity.
It is hard to live honestly despite our attempts.
Despite it all, it is so difficult to keep our own promises, especially if the business and our ministry are in the line. Everyone wants success, but being honest does not always guarantee in success. The Bible tells us that “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26) Therefore, any person who can discern his “Yes” or “No” with honesty and to think and live it is very mature in his / her spirit.
Even those who want to live honest life makes mistakes. It is because we are not perfect. Apostle Paul argued in Romans 7:19, “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” The special thing about honest people is that, once they realized that, they cannot deny it. Aaron, the brother of Moses had led the Israelites to making the Golden Calf in Exodus 32. Few verses down, it is shown that Aaron tried to make excuses of it. King David on the other hand, would confess of his sins and would not deny them. That is why he is the person that was “in favor of God’s eye”.
Being honest always has a price, but to those who act upon it is blessed. In that the spirit would be in peace. There is no fear. There is trust and respect from others. It is such a great blessing and great evaluation in the view of the Bible. In the Proverbs it is written, “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1) Also in the book of Psalms it is written; “Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.” (Psalms 112:4) This blessing not only is for the person, but would be passed to the generations ahead as well. It is clearly shown in the lives of people like Joseph and Daniel. On the other hand, people like Judas of Iscariot and Ananias and Sapphira are the negative examples of people who had lost their integrity.
The problem now, is to see how we keep this integrity for the ages to come.
First, the Holy Spirit points out where the integrity was damaged, there is to be healing and total repentance. There is needed to be of repentance to those who were hurt because of the lack of integrity. That is the way to repair the cleanness. The more straight answer is not to seek out the wisdom of the Word to teach to others, but to check myself if the Word is speaking to me if I am living with God’s Word or not. By living with the Word and not by the World, then we can live in an honest life with integrity.
We are called to be examples of that to those who we serve in both words and acts. Whatever happens, I pray that every one of us will have “Integrity” in our works.
“So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.” (Acts 24:16)
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To Fly Over 
Integrity