Living in the truth is the greatest investment in your future.
Let me explain where this statement originated…
I’ve been thinking an awful lot about integrity as of late. Of course, it’s a noble characteristic that we all ought to strive for, but it’s much more than that; it pays incredible dividends throughout a person’s life. Integrity bears incredible, tangible, even measurable results. It all begins in the heart of a person.
For as he thinks within himself, so he is.
– Proverbs 23:7a
We know from Holy Scripture that it is what comes out of a man that defiles him.
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
– Matthew 15:18
Jesus was clearly echoing what He said elsewhere:
So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
– Matthew 7:17-18
If this is true, then what we all ought to strive for is a pure heart. This is exactly what King David prayed for after living in prolonged sin with Bathsheba.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.
For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
– Psalm 51:1-17
When we fail to function in integrity (David with Bathsheba is a perfect example), our only recourse is to cast ourselves before God seeking mercy. There’s no human remedy, no matter how hard we try to manufacture one. The very best we can do regarding our own future is to invest in our integrity. This means we cannot show up with a laundry list of lies we refuse to confess to the Lord. We must confess our sins, our lies, our awfulness in full to Him, and leave all the excuses at the door. After all, as David said, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment” (v4). The remedy begins with a fresh start, so to speak. The good news is that God will always embrace repentance from His children!
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
– Lamentations 3:22-23
Today’s the best day of all to begin investing in your future! Confess your sins to the Lord in earnest, with a “contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17), and ask for what King David asked for, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). This is your starting point! It’s time to shed the sins, my friend. It’s time to turn over a new leaf, as they say. God’s Spirit is knocking on your door through this blog – can you hear it? Don’t delay, for tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.
Strive to be a truth-teller from here on out. Honesty is the very best that life can offer you. Do you understand what I just wrote? I’m not even talking about others; I’m talking about you specifically, where your speaking the truth as a way of life is best for you.
Living the truth is the greatest investment in your future because it relieves any tension you have with God. The reason liars are so miserable is because they persist in their own ways instead of confessing their arrogance and submitting to their Father in Heaven.
King David said it so very well:
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah
I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
– Psalm 32
My friend, hear the voice of God the Holy Spirit in this moment. There’s a reason you, personally, are reading this blog. There’s a reason why He had me write it. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1) – accept this blog for what it is, a grace gift from God. The timing is perfect.
Life is short.
Now’s the time to invest in your future by living in the truth. You know how to get there. Take the first step.
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins