"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. . . I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. . . I am the good shepherd; and I know My own, and My own know Me" (John 10: 1-2,11,14 NAS)
A person of integrity must have integrity in his/her private and public life; or, one will expose the lack in the other. The word "integrity" is a treasure chest of features of good character, i.e., honest and truthful, fair and just, open-hearted, faithful and trustworthy, incorrupt and morally pure.
There is only on Man who has true integrity--His name is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. All of the rest of us human beings have been defiled and corrupted by sin. We have a tendency to wear the facade of integrity when in public but shed ourselves of it when "off stage." The "new man" who is born of the Holy Spirit of God will "forget what is behind" and "putting on the new man" continue to submit to the work of the Holy Spirit, Who transforms him/her into the image of God's Son, inside out (See Ephesians 4:21-24).
Jesus' message was clear and simple, "Repent for the Kingdom of God has come." This message is for all mankind, not just the Jews. "Turn to God and submit yourself totally to Him!" That is the continual message for the ages until He comes to close the book. Our compliance to what the message commands us, is the first step to attaining integrity. Think about it.
© S.M. Hudson, Hidden Treasure Ministries, December 2003. All rights reserved.
Categories: forgiveness
