My parents did not overtly practice Christianity in our home until my younger brother came into the picture.
In fact, we were not baptized until Patrick was 6 and I was 16.
Our Dad and I were required to attend catechism classes. My brother was too young to attend those classes.
Our Dad retired from the military for several years before settling down in a small Texas town where just about everyone went to church on Sundays.
We were raised in a good home and our family practiced Christian values even before we joined that local denominational church.
Honesty was a way of life, and we were expected to tell the truth at all times.
My Dad was a man of Integrity. And he expected his boys to live accordingly.
We quickly learned that telling the truth at all times was certainly easier than attempting to cover up lies with more lies.
Sadly, morality has taken a wrong turn and many in this world seem to come up with their own version of their personal truth that they live by.
The Holy Bible has all the answers we need to live a life of integrity. The Book of Proverbs is one of the best resources on righteous living.
Unfortunately, just reading Scripture on the topic will not guarantee integrity. It requires a change of heart that can only come from a proper relationship with our Father in Heaven.
What I find most valuable in my attempt to walk in honest truth is knowing that my Lord is pleased with what I say, what I do, who I am and, most important, who I will become.
You see, the Christian life is a process. He wants all His children to be examples of His Son and the way He lived an exemplary life during His short tenure here on Earth.
If you sense a lack integrity in your life, I can only pray that the Lord will convict you of your devious ways and lead you on a new path of integrity and righteousness.
The only way I know for such a change to take place in a human being follows. You must realize that God is not pleased with your behavior and you must ask His forgiveness.
Then you need to ask Him to change your outlook on life and allow Him to take control this day forward. After all, His Son died for our sins.
Just imagine how different this world could be if we could actually believe what people said to be the truth rather than half-truths or outright lies.
Well, in this present world we’ll just have to accept much less from humankind. But there will be a Day when our Lord returns and integrity will be among us!
Come soon Lord Jesus. Maranatha!