Our Lord Jesus says in John 14:6 that He is the way, the truth and the life. He embodies not just the truth, but the truth of who God is. He is always faithful and true. In Him, love and justice meet. And He changes not. Heaven and earth will pass away, but His word will remain. Hence, He is the rock we can lean on, the shelter we can find refuge in. His word is a lamp to our feet, a light to our paths.
To have integrity is to be like Him. It’s to live by His truth, in devotion and sincerity of heart. It’s to be reliable, steadfast, unwavering, and dependable, even when opposed. It’s doing what is right, not just in people’s eyes, but in His sight.
To have such integrity is to let it guard our hearts, and help us honour our commitment to God and others in our decisions. It’s to live by what we value, to align our convictions with our words and actions, and to uphold God’s truth and justice in our work and social spaces. It’s loving and respecting others. It will help us foster trust in our relationship and build bonds in our community. In a world of moral ambiguities and compromises, it will cause us to shine like stars in the dark. We will bear witness to God’s love and truth.
It’s as God said to King Solomon who took over his father’s throne in 1 Kings 9:4-5, “As for you, if you walk before me faithfully with integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever…” God does not build His kingdom on human abilities, personalities, and wisdom, but on the truth of His word, through His people who impact others through their integrity and faithfulness.
To live such a life is to commit ourselves first to God, and then to one another in accountable relationships. It’s to learn from our mistakes and to be open to correction and change. It’s to put our faith into action so that others too can be inspired and led to the Lord Jesus we follow.