"A History of Integrity"

Last week, as I tracked the upcoming storm via TV news, I noticed everyone seemed to be anxiously waiting to share the findings of "The Mitchell Report". While I don't watch baseball and have not really kept abreast of the investigation into the use of anabolic steroids, obviously many others are very interested. And so I listened to the list of names, (I think I recognized five of them) and I listened as sportscasters predicted the effect this report would have on the sport. Each "expert" had a different opinion, which didn't surprise me in the least. What did surprise me is that not one of them (the ones I saw anyway) doubted the validity of the report. In fact several times I heard different ones say that Senator Mitchell was chosen because of his "history of integrity".
What a powerful testimony! I don't know Mr. Mitchell, nor do I know anything of him. All I know is that those in the media who are always so quick to report faults and dishonesty have made statements regarding this man's integrity. Evidently this man is honest enough that he has consistently behaved truthfully. It isn't that he just told the truth once or twice, it seems to be a habit with him. That is amazing! I began to wonder how many of us would gain the same testimony?
Could people look back at our lives and say that we adhered to our principles? Could they say that we did not practice situational ethics? Could they? Let me get one thing straight, I don't believe that George Mitchell is perfect, that he has never made a mistake, or a bad decision. But, I do believe it says a lot for his character that his "history" is one of personal integrity. That gives him credibility! That gives his words power and validity!
God says, "The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes the crooked path will be found out." (Proverbs 10:9) This man of integrity, the man who walks upright, is the man God promises to bless, to guide, to govern. The man who keeps his integrity intact in all situations is obviously a man who lives by an unchanging standard---ahhh . . . I know all you preachers are already thinking, "hey, I have preached that before"--- (grin). In a society with ever changing standards, integrity has become a very rare commodity. One of the definitions of integrity uses the phrase, "steadfast adherence to a definite set of moral values". We live in a world where very few things are "definite". God's standards are! They do not change. What He expected two thousand years ago is what He expects in 2007 and what He will expect in 2008. And those who are "walking in the light" are those who are consistently building a "history of integrity".
When I look back on my entire life, I know that my history is less than stellar. But isn't that what the blood of Christ is all about? Isn't it about taking our past and purifying our present? Isn't it about a chance to create or allow Him to create a history for us? Praise God for His patient sacrifice, for His unchanging standard and for His gift of second chance! May we all begin today working on our "history", so that as we share the gospel message, our words have credibility, they are valid because we are the kind of person who is trusted, all because of we have a "history of integrity".

Peace
Neva