Psalm 25:21 • Integrity

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(This transcript was prepared using software tools and has not been reviewed for complete accuracy.)

AS YOU'RE BEING SEATED, WE
WANT TO CELEBRATE THE MUSICAL
OFFERING TODAY:  SO MANY VOICES,
SO MANY TALENTS, SO MANY
INSTRUMENTS, SO MANY GENERATIONS
AS WE PRAISE GOD FOR
ORCHESTRATING HIS PRAISE.
AND IN THE MESSAGE TODAY, I
WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO THINK, IF
YOU COULD, HOW GOD IS
ORCHESTRATING HIS CHOIR IN THE
WORLD:  THAT IN THE WORKPLACE,
IN THE HOME, ALL THAT WE DO BY
VOCATION IS A PROFESSION OF HIM.
AND HE'S ORCHESTRATING THAT
CHORUS FOR HIS GLORY.
SOMEBODY WHO APPARENTLY
PERCEIVED THAT WAS THE SON OF
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE ANTONIN
SCALIA.
IF YOU DID NOT HEAR THE FUNERAL
EULOGY YESTERDAY, LET ME JUST
TELL YOU HOW THAT EULOGY BEGAN.
THE SON OF JUSTICE SCALIA SAID,
"WE ARE GATHERED HERE TODAY
BECAUSE OF ONE MAN:  A MAN KNOWN
PERSONALLY TO MANY OF US, A MAN
KNOWN ONLY BY REPUTATION TO MANY
MORE, A MAN LOVED BY MANY,
SCORNED BY OTHERS, A MAN KNOWN
FOR GREAT CONTROVERSY AND GREAT
COMPASSION.
THAT MAN, OF COURSE, IS JESUS OF
NAZARETH."
THE SURPRISE ENDING SHOULD BE A
SURPRISE TO NO BELIEVER, FOR WE
RECOGNIZE THAT DAILY WE BEAR ON
US THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS.
YOU ARE, AFTER ALL, A CHRISTIAN.
YOU BEAR ON YOU THE NAME OF
CHRIST.
THAT MEANS IN WHAT WE DO, WHERE
WE GO, HOW WE WORK, WE ARE
ALWAYS NAMING ANOTHER.
WE ARE POINTING TO HIM.
THE PSALM THAT WE WILL READ
TODAY, PSALM 25 AND VERSE 21, IS
A REMINDER OF ONE OF THE VERY
BASIC WAYS IN WHICH WE BEAR THE
NAME OF OUR SAVIOR IN THE
WORKPLACE.
LET'S STAND AND I WILL READ TO
YOU THIS BRIEF PORTION OF GOD'S
WORD.
KEEP YOUR BIBLES OPEN; WE'LL
LOOK MORE THROUGHOUT THE PSALM
AS WE GO.
BUT FOR THIS MOMENT, CONSIDER
HOW GOD IS ORCHESTRATING HIS
CHORUS IN THE WAY THAT THIS IS
PROFESSED IN YOU.
VERSE 21, PSALM 25, "MAY
INTEGRITY AND UPRIGHTNESS
PRESERVE ME, FOR I WAIT FOR
YOU."
LET'S PRAY TO THE LORD.
>>> FATHER, WE DO WAIT FOR YOU
IN THIS SERVICE BY YOUR SPIRIT
TO BRING YOUR WORD, PENETRATING
OUR HEARTS BUT EVEN MORE IN OUR
DAILY LIVES, NOT JUST IN THIS
PLACE BUT IN WORKPLACE, IN HOMES
WHERE WE WORK, AMONG RELATIVES
AND FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES.
YOU ARE CALLING US TO
DEMONSTRATE SOMETHING OF YOU.
WOULD YOU GIVE US INSIGHT AS TO
HOW?
BUT MAYBE MORE THAN THAT, A
HEART FOR THE SAVIOR WHO MADE US
HIS OWN THROUGH HIS PAIN, THAT
WE IN GRATITUDE FOR HIS SERVICE
TO US WOULD LIVE IN SERVICE TO
HIM.
HELP US TO SEE HOW.
WE PRAY IN JESUS' NAME.
AMEN.
>>> PLEASE BE SEATED.
YOU CALL THIS CLEAN?
THIS IS NOT QUALITY WORK.
THAT PERFORMANCE REVIEW WAS
GIVEN BY THE GUARD OVER KENNETH
BAE, MY FORMER STUDENT AND THE
LONG HELD PRISONER IN NORTH
KOREA FOR WHOM THIS CHURCH HAS
FAITHFULLY PRAYED.
KENNETH BAE'S CRIME WAS TO GO
INTO NORTH KOREA NOT WITH
BIBLES, NOT ORGANIZING
EVANGELISTIC CRUSADES, BUT
SIMPLY TO TAKE BELIEVERS WITH
HIM TO PRAY FOR THE NORTH
KOREANS AROUND THEM.
HIS MISTAKE WAS TO MAKE NOTE OF
THAT ON HIS COMPUTER SO THAT
WHEN HIS HOTEL ROOM WAS SEARCHED
IN HIS ABSENCE, HIS PRAYER
DESIGNS WERE MADE KNOWN TO THE
GOVERNMENT.
AND FOR THAT REASON, HE WAS
SENTENCED TO 15 YEARS OF HARD
LABOR FOR CRIMES AGAINST THE
STATE.
IN HIS SOON TO BE RELEASED BOOK,
"NOT FORGOTTEN," HE WRITES OF
THAT EXPERIENCE IN A RETRAINING
CAMP OF HARD LABOR.
ONCE THE GUARD SAID, "THIS IS
NOT QUALITY WORK; DO IT AGAIN,"
KENNETH REPLIED, "OKAY."
THE GUARD SPUN AROUND ON HIS
BOOTS, "HOW ARE YOU TO ADDRESS
ME, PRISONER 103?"
"YES, TEACHER, SIR."
BECAUSE IN THE RETRAINING CAMP,
GUARDS WERE TO BE CALLED
TEACHERS.
"DID I GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO
SPEAK, 103?"
"EXCUSE ME, TEACHER.
MAY I SPEAK?"
"STAND UP WHEN YOU SPEAK TO ME,
103."
STRUGGLING TO HIS FEET, BECAUSE
HIS TASK HAD BEEN TO SCOUR A
RAIN MUDDIED FLOOR WITH A
SCRUBBING BRUSH ON HIS KNEES
DESPITE HIS DIABETES AND
CIRCULATION PROBLEM, HE
STRUGGLED TO HIS FEET.
"EXCUSE ME, TEACHER.
MAY I SPEAK?"
"YES, YOU MAY SPEAK, 103."
"TEACHER, I WILL SCRUB THE FLOOR
AGAIN."
AND AFTER THAT EXPERIENCE AND
MANY SIMILAR, KENNETH BAE
WRITES, "I NEVER ARGUED OR TRIED
TO DEFINE MYSELF.
I KNEW MY WORDS WOULD NEVER
CONVINCE.
INSTEAD, I TRIED VERY HARD TO DO
MY WORK WELL AND WITH A RIGHT
ATTITUDE.
I BELIEVED THAT IF I COULD SHOW
MY GUARDS A DIFFERENCE IN THE
WAY THAT I WORKED, THEIR HEARTS
COULD SOFTEN TO THE GOSPEL."
ALMOST 10 YEARS BEFORE THAT
MOMENT, KENNETH BAE HAD ENTERED
INTO HIS JOURNAL THIS PRAYER:
"LORD, IF YOU WANT TO USE ME AS
A BRIDGE CONNECTING NORTH KOREA
TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD AND TO YOUR
WORD, USE ME."
BUT HE WOULD NEVER HAVE THOUGHT,
NEVER EVEN HAVE DESIRED THAT
SUCH USE WOULD BE TO DIRECT
WORLD ATTENTION UPON HIM BECAUSE
OF HIS UNFAIR CONFINEMENT IN A
HARD LABOR CAMP FOR 15 YEARS IN
NORTH KOREA.
AND, YET, THAT WAS THE LORD'S
PLACE.
AND HE SAID, "IF THIS IS WHERE
I'M TO WORK, THEN I WILL SEEK TO
WORK IN A WAY THAT HONORS MY
LORD."
IT WAS VERY SIMPLY THE TESTIMONY
OF INTEGRITY.
OF, BY WORK, ACTIONS, AS WELL AS
WORDS, DEMONSTRATING THE NATURE
OF HIS SAVIOR.
AND YOU HAVE TO ASK WHY?
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE TO
LIVE WITH INTEGRITY BEFORE A
WATCHING WORLD?
BECAUSE WE'RE NOT ALL IN HARD
LABOR CAMPS, THOUGH SOME OF YOU
THINK YOU ARE.
BUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE ON
THE ASSEMBLY LINE, IN
CONSTRUCTION WORK, IN AN OFFICE,
AT SCHOOL, ON A FARM, IN A
NURSING HOME, OR NURSING A BABY,
GOD HAS CALLED YOU TO
DEMONSTRATE WHO YOU ARE IN HIM,
TO BEAR ON YOURSELF THE NAME
CHRIST, CHRISTIAN.
AFTER ALL, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO
LIVE WITH INTEGRITY?
WHY WOULD THAT MAKE A
DIFFERENCE?
TO CONSIDER THAT, WE HAVE TO
DEFINE WHAT INTEGRITY IS.
IF YOU JUST KIND OF TAKE IT
COMMONLY IN THE WORDS OF THE
WORLD, IT MEANS TO SPEAK AND TO
ACT HONESTLY.
AND THAT'S GETTING AT IT.
I MEAN, IT SOMEWHAT REFLECTS
PSALM 15:4, "A BLAMELESS PERSON
IS ONE WHO SWEARS TO HIS OWN
HURT AND CHANGES NOT."
THAT HE'S TRUE TO HIS WORD, EVEN
IF THE CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE,
EVEN IF THERE'S AN UNEXPECTED
COST.
THAT PERSON IS TRUSTWORTHY UNDER
PRESSURE, THAT HIS WORDS AND
ACTIONS ARE TRUE AND ARE STAYING
TRUE DESPITE THE PRESSURE.
ALL THAT'S APPROPRIATE, BUT IT
DOESN'T QUITE GO WHERE THE FULL
CHRISTIAN DEFINITION IS.
THE PSALM IS HELPING US WITH
THAT.
IN VERSE 8, WE ARE SIMPLY TOLD,
AGAIN, PSALM 25 AND VERSE 8,
"GOOD AND UPRIGHT IS THE LORD."
THAT'S HIS NATURE.
THAT'S HOW HE IS IDENTIFIED.
HE IS GOOD AND UPRIGHT.
AND THEN THE CHALLENGE THAT THE
PSALMIST PUTS BEFORE US IS IN
THE PRAYER OF VERSE 21, "MAY
INTEGRITY AND UPRIGHTNESS
PRESERVE ME."
LORD, IS WHAT YOU ARE, WILL IT
BE CHARACTERISTIC OF ME?
YOU'RE UPRIGHT; MAY I ALSO BE
UPRIGHT AND TRUST THAT THAT'S
WHAT'S GOING TO PRESERVE ME,
BECAUSE ULTIMATELY IT'S PUTTING
MY WELLBEING INTO YOUR HANDS.
I'M WANTING TO MAKE SURE THAT
YOUR NATURE AND MY WORK MATCH.
THAT MAKES SENSE.
IF WE BEAR ON US THE NAME OF
CHRIST, THEN WE WILL WANT OUR
WORK TO MATCH HIS NATURE, WHICH
SIMPLY KIND OF BOILS DOWN TO
THIS:  WHAT'S INTEGRITY?
IT'S BEING WILLING TO ASK THE
QUESTION:  HOW WOULD JESUS DO MY
JOB?
IF CHRIST WERE TO DO MY JOB, HOW
WOULD HE DO IT?
INTEGRITY IS SEEING THAT THE
NATURE OF OUR WORK AND THE
NATURE OF OUR GOD MATCH.
WHAT HAPPENS IF CHRIST'S NATURE
AND OUR WORK MATCH?
NUMBER ONE, WE ADORN THE NAME OF
OUR SAVIOR WITH THE INTEGRITY OF
OUR WORK.
ADORN IS AN OLD WORD.
IT MEANS TO MAKE BEAUTIFUL OR
ATTRACTIVE.
IF OUR GOD IS TO BE BEAUTIFUL OR
ATTRACTIVE TO OUR CULTURE IF NOT
TO OUR OWN HEARTS, HE HAS TO BE
TRUE AND TRUSTWORTHY.
AND IF WE ARE SHOWING WHAT HE IS
LIKE, IF WE ARE ADORNING HIS
NATURE AND NAME WITH OUR WORK,
THEN OUR WORK TOO HAS TO BE TRUE
AND TRUSTWORTHY.
TO WHOM?
WELL, FIRST TO THE WATCHING
WORLD.
NO MYSTERY HERE THAT WHEN GOD
BEGINS TO DESCRIBE WHO WE ARE
STANDING BEFORE, IT COMES IN
VERSE 8.
"GOOD AND UPRIGHT IS THE LORD;
THEREFORE HE INSTRUCTS SINNERS
IN THE WAY."
GOD INTENDS TO MAKE KNOWN WHO HE
IS TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT
REFLECTING WHO HE IS, TO
SINNERS.
AND THE NATURE AND DEGREE OF
THEIR SIN IS MADE CLEAR IN VERSE
19.
"CONSIDER HOW MANY ARE MY
FOES," SAYS THE PSALMIST, "AND
WITH WHAT VIOLENT HATRED THEY
HATE ME."
TO STAND WITH INTEGRITY, JUST
PLAYING HEADS UP BASEBALL, IS TO
SAY THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL
OPPOSE THAT.
TO LIVE WITH INTEGRITY IN THE
WORLD IS TO PUT OURSELVES AT
RISK.
IT'S TO HAVE THE WATCHING WORLD
LOOK AT US AND SAY, "WHAT IT
MEANS TO LIVE FOR CHRIST IS TO
LIVE WITH INTEGRITY REGARDLESS
OF THE COST."
KENNETH BAE EXHIBITED SUCH WHEN
HE WROTE MORE OF WHAT HAPPENED
IN HIS LIFE.
HE WROTE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF
STAYING TRUE TO GOD'S WILL AND
WAYS WHEN CRUELTY AND UNFAIRNESS
AND ABSOLUTE FATIGUE WOULD HIT
HIM.
HE WROTE, "I SAT IN THE COMPLETE
DARKNESS OF MY CELL AT NIGHT,
AND I SANG LOVE SONGS OF JESUS.
I WAS SO TIRED I COULD NOT EVEN
OPEN MY EYES.
MY BODY ACHED FROM THE LABOR.
YET I KNEW THE GUARDS WERE
LISTENING.
A GUARD CAME TO ME AFTER HEARING
MY SONGS AND PRIVATELY SAID,
'PASTOR, WHAT BENEFIT WOULD I
GET IF I BELIEVE IN GOD LIKE
YOU?'
WHAT HE WAS REALLY SAYING WAS,
'HOW MUCH WILL IT COST ME?'
I EXPLAINED THAT THERE IS NO
FINANCIAL COST.
HOWEVER, TO BELIEVE IN JESUS
MEANS THAT WE SURRENDER ALL TO
HIM.
HE ASKED ME, 'IF YOUR GOD IS
REAL, WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?'
I ANSWERED HONESTLY:  'WITHOUT
ME HERE, HOW WOULD YOU KNOW
ABOUT GOD AND HIS SON, JESUS
CHRIST?'"
SO LONG BEFORE, KENNETH HAD
PRAYED, "LORD, MAKE ME A BRIDGE.
USE MY LIFE IN THE WAY THAT YOU
SEE FIT, TO MAKE ME A BRIDGE TO
THOSE AROUND ME, THOSE LOOKING
ON.
FAIR OR UNFAIR, EVIL OR GOOD,
MAKE ME A BRIDGE."
AND ONE OF THE WAYS GOD WAS
LETTING HIM DO THAT WAS SIMPLY
LIVE WITH INTEGRITY BEFORE THOSE
WHO PERSECUTED HIM, WHO HURT
HIM.
THOSE WHO NEEDED NONETHELESS TO
KNOW OF HIS SAVIOR.
WE LIVE WITH INTEGRITY BEFORE
THE WATCHING WORLD, BECAUSE WE
WANT THE WATCHING WORLD TO KNOW
THE NATURE OF OUR SAVIOR BY OUR
OWN TESTIMONY.
BUT, OF COURSE, THE WATCHING
WORLD IS NOT ALL WHO BENEFITS BY
A TESTIMONY OF INTEGRITY.
OUR OWN HEARTS KNOW OUR GOD
BETTER BY OUR INTEGRITY.
VERSE 4, "MAKE ME KNOW YOUR
PATHS, O LORD; TEACH ME YOUR
PATHS."
VERSE 5, "LEAD ME IN YOUR TRUTH
AND TEACH ME."
VERSE 20, "OH, GUARD MY SOUL,
AND DELIVER ME!"
THERE IS THIS PROFOUND
UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN WE ARE
LIVING IN A CONSISTENT WAY
BEFORE THE LORD, HE BECOMES REAL
EVEN TO US.
AND THIS IS NOT A MYSTERY.
TO WORSHIP IN THE BEAUTY OF THE
WORSHIP SERVICE WE'VE HAD
ALREADY TODAY, TO FEEL CLOSE TO
GOD, TO FEEL THE REALITY IN THIS
PLACE, TO BE A WORSHIPPER ON
SUNDAY AND THEN TO BE AN ATHEIST
ON MONDAY:  EVEN YOU FEEL THE
SEPARATION.
IS HE REAL?
TO HAVE THE SCHIZOPHRENIC FAITH:
I'M OKAY WITH GOD HERE, BUT OVER
THERE IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE HE'S
REAL OR ALIVE.
AND I PROVE THAT, BECAUSE I
DON'T LIVE FOR HIM.
THAT THAT SCHIZOPHRENIA DRIVES
OUR OWN HEARTS AWAY FROM GOD.
AND WHAT GOD IS DOING BY OUR
TESTIMONY, BY OUR INTEGRITY IS
MAKING HIMSELF REAL IN OUR OWN
HEARTS AND LIVES.
WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, I HAD THE
PRIVILEGE OF WORKING EVERY
SUMMER FOR THE SAME ROAD
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.
I WAS A DISPATCHER.
AND AFTER I'D DONE THAT A FEW
SUMMERS, GOT TO HAVE A FAIRLY
GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH MY BOSS.
AND ONE DAY, HE SAID, "BRYAN,
YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
SO, LISTEN, FOR THE NEXT COUPLE
OF DAYS, I HAVE A CABIN DOWN IN
MISSISSIPPI.
IF YOU WANT TO GO, WHY DON'T YOU
JUST GO DOWN TO MY CABIN IN
MISSISSIPPI?
YOU CAN FISH AT NIGHT.
AND IN THE DAYTIME, WHY DON'T
YOU PAINT THE CABIN FOR ME, AND
I'LL KEEP YOU ON THE PAYROLL."
[LAUGHTER]
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT THIS.
I FISH:  YOU PAY ME.
YOU BET.
BY THAT EVENING, I WAS AT THE
CABIN.
[LAUGHTER]
AND GOT A CALL FROM MY FATHER.
"BRYAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
"WELL, DAD, I GOT THIS GREAT
OPPORTUNITY.
YOU KNOW, IF I PAINT THIS CABIN
IN THE DAYTIME, I CAN FISH AT
NIGHT AND I'M NOT LOSING ANY
MONEY."
AND MY DAD SAID, "WELL, UM,
THAT'S WHAT YOUR MOTHER TOLD ME
YOU WERE DOING.
BRYAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING
RECEIVING COMPANY PAY FOR
PRIVATE WORK?"
WELL, I HADN'T THOUGHT OF IT
THAT WAY.
I DIDN'T WANT TO THINK OF IT
THAT WAY.
AND I SAID TO MY FATHER, I SAID,
"DAD, I CAN'T GO BACK TO MY BOSS
AND TELL HIM THAT HE'S ASKING ME
TO DO SOMETHING UNETHICAL.
I MEAN, YOU KNOW I NEED THIS JOB
SO THAT I CAN PAY FOR TUITION
AND STAY IN COLLEGE."
MY FATHER SAID, "I KNOW THAT YOU
NEED A JOB TO DO WHAT YOU THINK
YOU SHOULD DO IN LIFE.
BUT I KNOW WHAT YOU NEED FOR
LIFE, AND THIS IS NOT IT."
SO I LEFT THAT NIGHT, AND I WENT
IN TO MY BOSS THE NEXT DAY AND
TOLD HIM THAT I COULD NOT DO
WHAT HE HAD ASKED OF ME.
IT WAS TENSE.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT HE DID NOT FIRE ME.
AND I RECOGNIZED THAT PERHAPS
THE REASON I'M STANDING BEFORE
YOU NOW IS BECAUSE I DID NOT
LOSE THAT JOB AND WAS ABLE TO
CONTINUE IN COLLEGE AND STUDIES
FURTHER BEYOND THAT.
AND MAYBE IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT
PRESERVATION.
BUT EVEN MORE THAN THAT, I
RECOGNIZED IN THAT MOMENT I
COULD TRUST MY GOD; THAT WHEN HE
CALLED ME TO HARD THINGS, EVEN
IF I DID NOT WANT TO FACE THEM,
MY GOD WAS CALLING ME TO AN
ETHICAL STANDARD BEYOND WHICH I
EVEN WANTED TO LIVE FOR THE SAKE
OF HIM.
I PRAISE MY GOD FOR THE FATHER
WHO MADE ME STICK TO MY FAITH.
BUT I WOULD CONFESS TO YOU:  IT
WAS HARD.
IT WAS REALLY HARD.
AND FOR THAT REASON, I WANT TO
SAY TO YOU, LISTEN, OUR
TESTIMONY IS NOT JUST TO THE
WATCHING WORLD:  IT'S TO OUR OWN
HEARTS.
THAT WE ARE BRINGING THE REALITY
OF OUR SAVIOR INTO OUR LIVES
WHEN WE SAY, "I WILL LIVE FOR
HIM, EVEN WHEN IT IS TOUGH."
AND THE REASON TO DO THAT IS NOT
JUST BECAUSE WE ARE ADORNING THE
NAME OF OUR SAVIOR WITH OUR
INTEGRITY.
AT THE VERY SAME MOMENT, WE
BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE THAT GOD IS
PRESERVING OUR GOOD BY WORK DONE
IN INTEGRITY.
VERSE 21 IS PRETTY CLEAR:
"GUARD MY SOUL AND DELIVER ME."
WHY?
"MAY INTEGRITY AND UPRIGHTNESS
PRESERVE ME, FOR I WAIT FOR
YOU."
IF YOU TELL KIND OF THE AVERAGE
PERSON IN BUSINESS OR INDUSTRY
THAT INTEGRITY IS GOOD, THERE'S
ALREADY AGREEMENT.
WELL, SURE IT IS.
I MEAN, HONESTY IS GOOD FOR
BUSINESS.
AND WE RECOGNIZE THAT.
IT PRESERVES A REPUTATION.
PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO DO
BUSINESS WITH YOU AND THEY THINK
THEY CAN TRUST YOU.
MAKES PERFECT SENSE.
I TEASED IN THE FIRST SERVICE
THAT KATHY AND I ARE CONSIDERING
BUYING AN APPLIANCE FROM A
PARTICULAR COMPANY HERE IN TOWN,
AND THE REASON IS BECAUSE WE
LIKE THE COMMERCIAL OF THE GUY
WHO TALKS ABOUT STUFF.
HE JUST SEEMS HONEST.
[LAUGHTER]
AND HE PROBABLY WILL AT LEAST
GET US TO LOOK AT HIS BUSINESS,
BECAUSE HE SEEMS HONEST.
WE, NOW EVERYBODY'S SAYING, "WHO
IS IT?
WHO IS IT?
WHO IS IT?"
[LAUGHTER]
WE RECOGNIZE INTEGRITY CAN BE
GOOD FOR BUSINESS.
BUT IF THAT PRAGMATIC IS WHAT IS
DRIVING US, IT IS INSUFFICIENT
FOR BIBLICAL INTEGRITY.
BECAUSE THE REALITY IS WHEN THE
PSALMIST IS SAYING, "MY
INTEGRITY PRESERVES ME; I HAVE
TO WAIT FOR YOU," IT'S THIS
NOTION OF IT MAY NOT JUST BE IN
THE IMMEDIATE THAT I'M GOING TO
SEE THE RESULT, THAT THERE'S
GOING TO BE SOME OBVIOUS
CONSEQUENCE OF MY ACTING WITH
INTEG--.
IF I HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE LORD,
IF HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO UNFOLD
THIS IN THE MIDST OF TROUBLES,
ENEMIES, AND AFFLICTION, WHICH
ARE ALSO IN THE PSALM, THEN THIS
CAN BE REALLY TOUGH, TO LIVE
WITH INTEGRITY.
AND WE MAY ACTUALLY DETERMINE
THAT IF IT'S A QUESTION OF
WHAT'S GOOD FOR BUSINESS, THEN
INTEGRITY MAY NOT ALWAYS BE BEST
FOR BUSINESS.
BETWEEN 2009 AND 2016,
VOLKSWAGEN, THE LARGEST CAR
DEALER IN THE WORLD BY SALES,
PRODUCED 11 MILLION CARS WITH
SOFTWARE DESIGNED TO DECEIVE THE
POLLUTION TEST EQUIPMENT.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS WERE
SO MUCH AVOIDED THAT THE
POLLUTANTS PROVIDED BY
VOLKSWAGEN CARS WERE 40 TIMES
THE ALLOWABLE FOR THE
REGULATIONS.
AND ALL THE TIME THAT VOLKSWAGEN
WAS PRODUCING THESE CARS WITH 40
TIMES THE POLLUTANTS THAT WERE
ALLOWED, THEY WERE ADVERTISING
THEMSELVES AS THE MOST GREEN AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS OF THE
MAJOR CAR DEALERS.
WHY?
THERE'D BEEN TWO MAJOR
EXPLANATIONS OFFERED IN THE
BUSINESS LITERATURE.
ONE IS THAT EXECUTIVES AT THE
VERY TOP OF THE COMPANY WITH THE
COMPLICITY, BY THE WAY, OF
HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF
WORKERS, SIMPLY DID THE MATH.
THE GERMAN ECONOMY REQUIRED THAT
VOLKSWAGEN DO WELL.
IF VOLKSWAGEN NOT DO WELL, THE
IMPACT UPON THE GERMAN ECONOMY
WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THAN THE
DEFAULT OF THE GREEK LOANS,
WHICH PUT THE GERMAN ECONOMY IN
DANGER.
AND IF THE GERMAN ECONOMY WERE
SOMEHOW TO STUMBLE, THEN PERHAPS
THE ENTIRE WORLD ECONOMY WOULD
STUMBLE AS A CONSEQUENCE, YOUR
LIFE AND MY LIFE BE AFFECTED.
AND SOMEBODY AT SOME POINT AT A
HIGH LEVEL MAY HAVE MADE A
DECISION:  GOOD BUSINESS SAYS WE
BETTER CHEAT FOR A WHILE.
THERE'S BEEN ANOTHER EXPLANATION
OFFERED:  THE EXPLANATION THAT A
FEW ENGINEERS WITHIN THE COMPANY
DETERMINED THAT IT WAS
IMPOSSIBLE TO MEET THE
ANTIPOLLUTION STANDARDS WITH
ACCEPTABLE MARGINS OF PROFIT.
AND THEREFORE, BECAUSE THE
TECHNOLOGY WAS NOT CURRENTLY
PRESENT TO DO SO, THE GOAL FOR
THE MOMENT WAS TO FAKE IT UNTIL
YOU COULD MAKE IT.
BECAUSE IF YOU DID NOT, YOUR OWN
JOB WAS IN JEOPARDY.
NOW, EITHER EXPLANATION, AND I'M
NOT SAYING WHICH IS TRUE, SAYS
THAT WHETHER YOU ARE UPSTREAM IN
THE PROCESS AT THE HIGHEST
LEVELS OF DECISION MAKING OR IF
YOU'RE DOWN SOMEWHERE JUST
CARRYING OUT WHAT'S REQUIRED TO
KEEP YOUR JOB, THAT BOTH LEVELS
HAVE EXTREME PRESSURE PUT UPON
THEM TO DO WHAT IS UNACCEPTABLE
IN SCRIPTURE, WHICH IS TO
DECEIVE PEOPLE IN ORDER TO MAKE
A PROFIT.
BUT IF YOUR GOAL IS TO JUST DO
WHAT'S BEST FOR BUSINESS, THAT
PRAGMATIC CAN DRIVE YOU.
AND I RECOGNIZE FOR MOST PEOPLE
IN THE ROOM, WHAT WE'RE NOT
THINKING ABOUT IS THE PEOPLE AT
THE HIGHEST LEVELS.
I MEAN, I HAVE TROUBLE EVEN
TELLING YOU THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE
WHO CAME TO ME AFTER THE FIRST
SERVICE SAYING, "I KNOW THE
PRESSURE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO FEEL
PUSHED AND PUSHED AND PUSHED
BEYOND WHAT I FEEL COMFORTABLE
ABOUT."
AND THAT'S NOT NEWS.
I'VE MENTIONED TO YOU IN
PREVIOUS WEEK THE PITNEY BOWES
AND UNIVOR--, UNIROYAL SURVEYS
WHERE MANAGERS OF THESE MAJOR
COMPANIES WERE SURVEYED AND
DEPENDING ON WHICH SEGMENT
BETWEEN 60 AND 70 PERCENT OF THE
MANAGERS SAID THAT THEY WERE
REGULARLY PUSHED AGAINST THEIR
INTEGRITY IN ORDER TO PERFORM
THE WORK.
AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S JUST
REFLECTING WHAT THEY WERE DOING
EARLIER ON, SO MANY OF THEM,
BECAUSE THE STANFORD AND RUTGERS
STUDIES, THESE HIGH POWERED
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, WOULD
ALSO SAY IN THEIR OWN SURVEYS
BETWEEN 60 AND 70 PERCENT OF
THEIR STUDENTS REGULARLY CHEAT
IN ORDER TO GET THE GRADES TO
WORK IN THE INDUSTRY WHERE THEY
WILL HAVE TO CHEAT AGAIN.
IT CAN BE REALLY TOUGH.
AND SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME
DECISION THAT INTEGRITY IS BEING
CALLED FOR IN OUR LIVES AND OUR
WORK BEYOND:  IT'S GOOD FOR MY
BUSINESS.
ULTIMATELY, AS BELIEVERS WE HAVE
TO SAY THE REASON FOR INTEGRITY
IS:  IT'S GOOD FOR GOD'S
BUSINESS.
AND AT TIMES, THAT MAY NOT SEEM
TO MATCH OUR EARTHLY GAINS.
WHY IS INTEGRITY GOOD FOR GOD'S
BUSINESS?
NUMBER ONE, IT RESCUES US FROM
UNCERTAINTY.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
LISTEN, IF THE OPTIONS ARE
CLEAR, IF IT'S EITHER UNGODLY,
UNETHICAL, OR TRUE TO GOD'S WORD
AND ETHICAL, THE CHOICE IS
CLEAR.
REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES,
IF THE ETHICAL CHOICES ARE
CLEAR, WE DO WHAT THE PSALMIST
SAYS HERE:  WE TAKE OUR REFUGE
IN HIM.
VERSE 20, "GUARD MY SOUL,
DELIVER ME!
LET ME NOT BE PUT TO SHAME, FOR
I TAKE REFUGE IN YOU."
WHEN I HEAR THAT WORD REFUGE, I
THINK OF THE BOMB SHELTER.
THAT WE'RE SAYING, "GOD, I HAVE
TO DIVE INTO YOU.
AND WHAT YOU'RE ACTUALLY
SECURING ME WITH IS YOUR OWN
STANDARDS.
YOU'RE THE CREATOR OF THE
UNIVERSE.
YOU'RE THE ONE WHO CONTROLS ALL
THINGS.
I RECOGNIZE YOU'VE SET THE
STANDARDS; YOU'VE SET THE WORLD
IN A WAY THAT OPERATES ACCORDING
TO WHAT IS BEST IN YOUR
COMMANDS.
AND SO I'M GOING TO DIVE INTO
YOU.
AND LEAVE THE REST TO YOU."
WHAT'S THE DANGER OF THAT?
BECAUSE IF IT'S A REFUGE, IF
IT'S A BOMB SHELTER, IT MEANS
THE BOMBS ARE GOING TO COME.
IT MEANS IT'S DANGEROUS.
AND THAT REALITY IS TO SAY, "BUT
AT LEAST IT TAKES THE
UNCERTAINTY AWAY FROM ME."
IF THESE ARE OBVIOUS CHOICES,
RIGHT OR WRONG, MAYBE TO MY
PENALTY TO DO IT IN TERMS OF
EARTHLY TERMS, BUT I'M GOING TO
DO WHAT GOD CALLS ME TO DO AND
TAKE MY REFUGE IN HIM.
NOW, HAVING SAID THAT, YOU AND
I, I HOPE, BOTH RECOGNIZE:  WERE
IT ONLY THAT EASY.
HERE'S A CLEAR CHOICE, RIGHT AND
WRONG.
NOW, SOMETIMES THAT'S THERE.
BUT EVEN AS SOME OF YOU HAVE
COME TO ME SINCE I HAVE BEEN
HERE IN THIS CHURCH WITH
ETHICAL, DIFFICULT DILEMMAS, I
RECOGNIZE I AM SCRATCHING MY
HEAD AT TIMES.
YOU KNOW, WHAT IS REQUIRED HERE?
BECAUSE IT IS A COMPLEX, BROKEN,
FALLEN WORLD, AND EVEN JESUS
TOLD THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT
AND THE TARES, THE WHEAT AND THE
WEEDS THAT GROW UP TOGETHER.
HOW DO YOU MAKE HARD DECISIONS?
AND ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THIS
INTEGRITY IS SO IMPORTANT IS NOT
JUST THAT IT RESCUES US FROM
UNCERTAINTY WHEN THE OPTIONS ARE
CLEAR, BUT IT ACTUALLY PROVIDES
OPPORTUNITY FOR WRESTLING WITH
GOD'S WORD WHEN THE OPTIONS ARE
NOT SO CLEAR.
VERSE 9 MAY SURPRISE US A BIT.
IT SPEAKS OF GOD LEADING "THE
HUMBLE IN WHAT IS RIGHT AND
TEACHES THE HUMBLE HIS WAY."
THE LEADING AND THE TEACHING ARE
BOTH WORDS OF PROCESS, THAT
WE'VE GOT TO KIND OF FIND OUR
WAY.
WE HAVE TO BE TAUGHT.
IT'S NOT IMMEDIATELY CLEAR.
AND I AND YOU RECOGNIZE THERE
ARE TIMES THAT WE ARE NEEDING TO
WRESTLE AND SEARCH GOD'S WORD
AND SEEK CHRISTIAN COUNSEL AND
BE IN PRAYER AND ASK FOR THE
GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AND THAT'S NOT A BAD THING.
TO ACTUALLY SAY, "GOD, I HAVE TO
DEPEND UPON YOU BEYOND MY OWN
WISDOM OF THE OBVIOUS NOW.
I'VE GOT TO SEARCH DEEP INTO
YOUR WORD IN WAYS TO FIND OUT
WHAT YOU'RE CALLING."
AND THAT IS SO MAKING MORE CLEAR
THE REALITY OF WHO HE IS AS
WE'RE DIVING INTO HIS WORD AND
SEACH--, SEEKING HIS WISDOM
ABOUT WHAT WE ARE FACING.
NEW YORK CITY PASTOR TIM KELLER
TELLS AN ACCOUNT OF A MAN COMING
TO HIM FOR ADVICE.
AND THE THING THAT HE WAS
STRUGGLING WITH IS THIS MAN WAS
AN INVESTMENT COUNSELOR FOR A
MAJOR EQUITY FIRM.
AND THE TEAM HAD DISCERNED THAT
THERE WAS A PARTICULAR COMPANY
THAT THEY COULD INVEST IN THAT
LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO TURN
A HUGE PROFIT VERY QUICKLY AND
OTHERS HAD NOT DISCOVERED IT.
THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY:  THE
PROBLEM WAS THE PRODUCT OF THAT
COMPANY.
NOT ILLEGAL BUT CLEARLY NOT
SOMETHING THAT A CHRISTIAN
WANTED TO BANK HIS FUTURE UPON.
AND, YET, THIS ONE INVESTMENT
COUNSELOR SAID, "MY WHOLE TEAM
WAS MAKING THIS ADVICE TO THE
COMPANY.
IF THAT PARTICULAR COMPANY THAT
WE WOULD BE INVESTING IN MADE A
LOT OF MONEY, THERE WOULDN'T
JUST BE PROFIT TO ME:  THERE
WOULD BE PROFIT TO THE WHOLE
TEAM.
THERE WOULD BE BONUSES FOR
PEOPLE.
OUR COMPANY WOULD THRIVE.
THERE WOULD BE MORE MAXIMIZED
VALUE OF SHAREHOLDER HOLDINGS IF
OUR COMPANY DO IT.
EVERYBODY WOULD DO BETTER.
BUT I DID NOT WANT TO INVEST MY
LIFE; I DID NOT WANT TO GIVE
ADVICE TO GO TO THAT COMPANY
WHOSE PRODUCT I FELT WAS AGAINST
MY OWN STANDARD."
WHAT DID HE DO?
AT SOME POINT, WHAT HE DID WAS
HE SAID THIS:  "I CANNOT FOR MY
SCRUPLES HOLD THESE OTHER TEAM
MEMBERS BACK FROM WHAT THEY
THINK CAN RETITER--.
IT'S NOT ILLEGAL WHAT THEY'RE
ASKING.
BUT NEITHER CAN I IN GOOD
CONSCIENCE BENEFIT FROM THAT
INVESTMENT."
AND SO HE TOLD HIS TEAM, "IF
THIS MAKES MONEY, I WILL ACCEPT
NO PROFIT FROM IT.
I WILL ACCEPT NO BONUS FROM IT."
NOW, MAYBE YOU THINK THAT'S AN
INADEQUATE ANSWER.
I DON'T KNOW.
YOU'RE NOT IN THAT SITUATION.
I'M NOT.
I TYPICALLY FIND THINGS ARE A
LOT CLEARER WHEN THEY'RE NOT IN
YOUR LIFE.
[LAUGHTER]
BUT WHAT I RECOGNIZED WAS THE
WILLINGNESS TO STRUGGLE, THE
WILLINGNESS TO STAND AND MAKE
HIS TESTIMONY, THE WILLINGNESS
TO SAY, "I'M STILL GOING TO
STAND.
IT'S FUZZY TO ME, BUT AS BEST I
AM ABLE, I'M GOING TO STAND FOR
MY SAVIOR."
AND THAT REALITY MEANS NOT ONLY
THAT WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
WRESTLE WITH GOD'S WORD:  WE
RECOGNIZE GOD IS OVER AND OVER
AGAIN PROVIDING US WITH
OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS HIS HAND.
VERSE 21 ENDS WITH THAT STRANGE
ENDING:  "MY INTEGRITY AND
UPRIGHTNESS PRESERVE ME, FOR I
WAIT FOR YOU."
GOD, YOU MAY HAVE TO UNFOLD
THIS.
I'M WAITING TO SEE WHAT YOU WILL
DO.
I THINK OF SIMILAR WORDS IN THE
MINOR PROPHET HABAKKUK, THE
SECOND CHAPTER AND THE THIRD
VERSE.
"THE VISION OF WHAT GOD WILL DO
AWAITS ITS APPOINTED TIME; IF IT
SEEMS TO DELAY, WAIT FOR IT; IT
WILL SURELY COME."
SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT
TO WITNESS THE HAND OF GOD.
WHEN I WAS IN SEMINARY, ONE OF
MY VERY GOOD FRIENDS WAS BEGIN
PUT THROUGH SEMINARY BY THE WORK
OF HIS WIFE.
SHE WAS A QUALITY CONTROL
INSPECTOR FOR A MAJOR
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY IN ST.
LOUIS.
AND AS THAT QUALITY CONTROL
INSPECTOR ONE DAY A PARTICULAR
SET OF SYRINGES HAD BEEN
MANUFACTURED BY HER COMPANY CAME
DOWN THROUGH HER AND IN THE
QUALITY INSPECTION SHE FOUND OUT
THAT THE LOT WAS CONTAMINATED.
HER BOSS QUICKLY DID THE MATH.
IF WE HAVE TO REMANUFACTURE THIS
LOT OF SYRINGES, THE LOSSES ARE
GOING TO BE HUGE.
"SIGN ANYWAY THAT THEY ARE NOT
CONTAMINATED," WAS THE ORDER TO
OUR FRIEND'S WIFE.
SHE SAID SHE COULD NOT DO THAT
BECAUSE OF WHATEVER GOVERNMENT
REGULATIONS WERE IN PLACE.
IF SHE PERSONALLY DID NOT SIGN,
THAT LOT OF SYRINGES COULD NOT
BE APPROVED.
AND SO HER BOSS SAID, "I'LL GIVE
YOU THE WEEKEND TO THINK ABOUT
IT.
BUT IF YOU WILL NOT SIGN ON
MONDAY MORNING, YOU'RE DONE AT
THIS COMPANY."
A LOT OF PRAYER ON THAT WEEKEND.
MONDAY MORNING, SHE DID NOT
SIGN.
SHE WAS FIRED.
HER FUTURE, HER HUSBAND'S
FUTURE, ALL KINDS OF MINISTRY
POTENTIAL IN JEOPARDY:  IT
SEEMED SURELY THE WRONG
DECISION.
WAIT FOR IT.
[LAUGHTER]
THE COMPANY FOR WHOM THE
SYRINGES WERE INTENDED FOUND OUT
ABOUT THE DELAY, FOUND OUT WHO
HAD CAUSED THE DELAY, AND WHY.
AND THEY HIRED HER.
[LAUGHTER]
DOES IT ALWAYS WORK THAT WAY?
NO.
IT WAS A WONDERFUL BENEFIT AND
BLESSING.
BUT YOU AND I WOULD NOT BE
HONEST IF WE SAID IN A FALLEN,
BROKEN WORLD THAT IT ALWAYS
WORKS THAT WAY.
AND SO WE WOULD HAVE TO SAY
BEYOND THE BENEFITS OF RESCUING
US FROM UNCERTAINTY AND GIVING
OPPORTUNITY FOR WRESTLING WITH
GOD'S WORD AND WITNESSING GOD'S
HAND, THE FINAL BENEFIT FOR
BELIEVERS OF INTEGRITY IN THE
WORKPLACE IS IT GIVES US
OPPORTUNITY TO SUFFER FOR THE
SAVIOR.
I KNOW THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A
GOOD THING.
THINK HOW THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS
IN PHILIPPIANS 1:29, "IT HAS
BEEN GRANTED TO YOU FOR THE SAKE
OF CHRIST NOT ONLY TO BELIEVE IN
HIM, BUT ALSO TO SUFFER FOR HIS
SAKE."
I DON'T LIKE THAT GRANT.
I DON'T LIKE THAT.
NOBODY DOES.
BUT THE REALITY OF WHAT CHRIST
HAS DONE FOR US, THAT HE GAVE
HIMSELF, HE GAVE UP HIS GLORY,
HIS SUFFERED FOR OUR SAKE WHEN
HE HAD TO DO NONE OF IT BUT SO
THAT WE WOULD RECOGNIZE THE
BASIC ESSENCE OF A CHRISTIAN
MESSAGE IS THAT I WOULD
DISADVANTAGE MYSELF FOR THE SAKE
OF OTHERS IS SOMETIMES WHAT WE
ARE CALLED TO DO, IN THE MOST
PROFOUND OF WAYS TO BEAR ON US
THE NAME OF OUR SAVIOR BY
SUFFERING FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS
WHO ARE WATCHING, WHO ARE AWARE.
WE ACTUALLY GIVE OURSELVES FOR
THEIR SPIRITUAL ETERNITY BY OUR
OWN EARTHLY AND TEMPORAL
SUFFERING, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT
OUR SAVIOR DID.
TO HAVE ON US THE NAME OF THE
SAVIOR IS AT TIMES TO BE WILLING
TO SUFFER AND TO ACTUALLY KNOW
HIM BETTER, EVEN AS WE ARE
MAKING HIM KNOWN BETTER BY OUR
OWN SUFFERING, TO WHICH
INTEGRITY MAY CALL US.
IT'S ONE THING TO SAY IT SO
SIMPLY THAT OUR VOCATION IS OUR
CALLING BY WHICH WE MAKE
PROFESSION OF THE LORD JESUS.
BUT THAT REALITY CAN BE TRULY A
PROFESSION BY THE SACRIFICE OF
OURSELVES TO SHOW WHO HE WAS AND
WHAT HE DID IN OUR BEHALF.
KENNETH BAE, AS HE WAS IN THE
HARD LABOR CAMP, WROTE OF THE
DIFFICULTY OF MAINTAINING HIS
COMMITMENT TO INTEGRITY.
HE SAID, "FROM THE TIME OF MY
ARREST, I HAD MEDITATED ON ALL
THE PROMISES OF RESCUE IN THE
BIBLE, ESPECIALLY IN THE PSALMS.
I BEGAN TO WONDER:  DOES IT MEAN
GOD DOESN'T LOVE ME IF HE DOES
NOT RESCUE ME?
CAN I KEEP TRUSTING IN GOD IF
THE WORST OF SCENARIOS COMES
TRUE?"
HE WROTE, "MY MOOD JUMPED AND
BEGAN TO GO BACK AND FORTH
BETWEEN VERY DEPRESSED AND NOT
VERY DEPRESSED.
I SANG SAD SONGS IN MY CELL,
LIKE ELVIS' 'ARE YOU LONESOME
TONIGHT?'"
[LAUGHTER]
"AND ERIC CARMEN'S."
 7 ALL BY MYSELF  7  7
[LAUGHTER]
"FINALLY ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2013,
I GOT DOWN ON MY BED, GOT ON MY
KNEES BY MY BED, AND PRAYED.
'LORD, YOU KNOW MY HEART.
YOU KNOW WHAT I WANT, BUT NOT MY
WILL, YOUR WILL BE DONE.
I WANT TO GO HOME.
BUT IF YOU WANT ME TO STAY, I
WILL STAY.
I WILL GIVE UP MY RIGHT TO GO
HOME.
I SURRENDER IT TO YOU.
IF THIS IS WHERE YOU WANT ME TO
BE, OKAY.
I EMBRACE THAT AS YOUR WILL.'"
HE WROTE, "PEACE CAME OVER ME AS
A WEIGHT LIFTED OFF MY
SHOULDERS.
GOD'S SPIRIT FILLED THE ROOM AND
REMINDED ME OF MY CALLING.
I PRAYED, 'THIS IS MISSION FIELD
YOU HAVE GIVEN ME.
NOW, LORD, USE ME IN THIS
PLACE.'
AND THE MOMENT I STOPPED
PRAYING, 'GOD SAVE ME,' AND
INSTEAD PRAYED, 'GOD, USE ME,' I
FELT FREE."
IT'S THE FREEDOM, I RECOGNIZE,
GOD IS CALLING US ALL TO AND THE
FREEDOM WE ACTUALLY FEAR.
GOD, I'M NOT JUST ASKING YOU TO
SAVE ME FOR THE MOMENT.
I'M SAYING:  USE ME IN THE WAY
THAT YOU THINK IS BEST AND
RIGHT.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
EARTHLY CONSEQUENCE MAY BE, BUT
I'M LIVING FOR AN ETERNAL GLORY.
I'M LIVING FOR YOUR SAKE.
AND FOR YOUR SAKE, I AM WILLING
TO SACRIFICE THE TEMPORAL GOOD
OF MY OWN LIFE, SO THAT THOSE
ABOUT ME AND MY OWN SOUL MAY
KNOW THE ETERNAL SAVIOR EVEN
BETTER.
THAT REALITY IS WHAT WE'RE DOING
AS WE RECOGNIZE THE ULTIMATE
GOAL OF INTEGRITY IS TO POINT
EVERYONE TO THE SAVIOR.
IT'S TO GLORIFY HIM BY MAKING
CLEAR WHAT WE ARE SAYING TO THE
WORLD, AND IT IS AMONG OTHER
THINGS MAKING CLEAR THE SAVIOR
TO OUR OWN HEARTS.
AFTER ALL, IF I TALK TO YOU
ABOUT INTEGRITY, I HOPE WHAT YOU
BEGIN TO FEEL IS THIS
OVERBEARING WEIGHT.
HOW CAN I LIVE THAT WAY
HOW COULD I DO ALL THAT'S BEING
CALLED OF ME?
AND ULTIMATELY YOU BECOME LIKE
THE PSALMIST IN VERSE 7 WHERE HE
SAYS, "LORD, REMEMBER NOT THE
SINS OF MY YOUTH OR MY
TRANSGRESSIONS," AS IN NOW.
GOD, I'M NOT DEPENDING ON MY
INTEGRITY TO RESCUE ME.
I'VE BECOME AWARE OF MY GREAT
NEED.
IT'S WHAT THE WORLD DOES NOT
PERCEIVE WHEN IT JUST CONSIDERS
THE ORDINARY CONCERNS OF
INTEGRITY.
I COULD NOT HELP BUT JUST LAUGH
INSIDE READING AN EXCERPTED
ARTICLE FROM THE "HARVARD
BUSINESS REVIEW" OF SEPTEMBER
2015 WHERE SUPPOSEDLY A VERY
ABLE PERSON, MICHAEL SCHRAGE,
SAID IN RESPONSE TO THE
VOLKSWAGEN CHEATING, "I BELIEVE
VOLKSWAGEN'S DEBACLE SIGNALS THE
LIKELY END OF DELIBERATE
CORPORATE MALFEASANCE."
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF SOMETHING
LIKE ENRON OR?
[LAUGHTER]
YOU KNOW, THAT ONE MAJOR STORY'S
GOING TO BE THE END OF CORPORATE
MALFEASANCE.
SOMEBODY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND:
"FOR ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALL
SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD," THAT
THERE IS STRUGGLE IN EVERY ONE
OF OUR HEARTS.
I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT
PEOPLE OUT THERE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT MY HEART.
I'M TALKING ABOUT YOUR HEART.
THE PRESSURES UPON EVERY ONE OF
US TO MEET THE NUMBERS, TO HOLD
THE RELATIONSHIPS, TO GET THE
DOLLARS.
THAT WE CAN JUST COLOR THE
TRUTH, TWIST IT.
I MEAN, IT IS SO EASY TO DO.
AND GOD IS SAYING, "IF I'M
CALLING YOU TO THIS STANDARD, I
HOPE YOU BEGIN TO RECOGNIZE YOUR
NEED OF ME."
BECAUSE AS YOU SEEK TO LIVE BY
THIS INTEGRITY, I WILL TELL YOU
SOMETHING:  YOUR INTEGRITY IS
NOT YOUR SALVATION.
WHAT GOD IS CALLING US TO DO
EVEN AS WE RECOGNIZE THE
STRESSES AND PUSHES AND FAULTS
IN US IS TO SAY, "YOU NEED
SOMEBODY BESIDE YOU."
I MEAN, THIS PSALM ENDS SO
WISELY.
VERSE 22, "REDEEM ISRAEL, O GOD,
OUT OF ALL HIS TROUBLES."
IT'S THE REMINDER THAT IF I
STRUGGLE SO MUCH, IF YOU
STRUGGLE, IF THE WORLD IS SO
BROKEN, IT ACTUALLY REWARDS THE
DECEIT, THEN YOU AND I NEED A
REDEEMER.
WE NEED A REDEEMER WHO SAYS,
"LORD, FORGET THE SINS OF MY
YOUTH.
DON'T HOLD MY TRANSGRESSIONS
AGAINST ME."
AND THEN WE BEGIN TO LIVE IN
INTEGRITY, NOT TO SAVE US BUT TO
SHOW OUR GRATITUDE TO OUR
SAVIOR.
IT'S NOT GAINING GRACE:  IT'S
RESPONDING TO IT.
AND WHEN WE BEGIN TO THAT, WE
BEGIN TO REJOICE WHEN WE SEE THE
HAND OF GOD.
WE BEGIN TO SEE GOD RE--,
WORKING AROUND US IN WAYS THAT
WE CAN'T ALWAYS EXPLAIN AND
STILL SAY, "BUT HE'S MY
REDEEMER, SO I'M GOING TO DIVE
INTO HIM AND TRUST IN HIM, EVEN
WHEN I CANNOT JUDGE OR
ANTICIPATE WHAT MAY COME OF
THESE MOMENTS."
KENNETH BAE, THERE IN THAT HARD
LABOR CAMP, HAD ONE VERY UNUSUAL
TASK.
HE WAS REQUIRED TO RAISE HIS OWN
FOOD.
FOR A MAN WHO HAD NEVER BEEN A
FARMER, THAT WAS AN AWFUL TASK,
AND THEY GAVE HIM AN AWFUL PLOT
OF LAND ON A HILLSIDE TO DO IT.
AND FOR A MAN WITH HEALTH
PROBLEMS AND DIABETES TO STAND
IN THE HOT SUN AT TIMES AND WITH
A HOE TRY TO BREAK THE HARD
DIRT, IT WAS AN AWFUL TASK.
ONE DAY, HE SAID THE CAMP
COMMANDER CHIDED HIM, POINTING
TO HIS STRUGGLING, RAGGED,
LITTLE CROPS ON THE HILLSIDE AND
POINTED TO THE PRISON'S
CULTIVATED CROPS IN THE VALLEY
AND THE NEAT ROWS BELOW.
AND THE COMMANDANT SAID, "YOU
HAVE YOUR HELP FROM HEAVEN, 103;
WE HAVE AN AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM
FROM KIM IL-SUNG, OUR SUPREME
LEADER.
LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE."
"THAT NIGHT," KENNETH SAID,
"THERE WAS INTENSE THUNDERSTORM
OVER THE PRISON."
AND THE NEXT MOF--, MON--,
MORNING, A COMMOTION IN THE
CAMP.
THE ENTIRE VALLEY HAD BEEN
FLOODED.
THE ONLY FIELD PRESERVED WAS HIS
ON THE HILLSIDE.
HE WROTE IN HIS JOURNAL, "LORD,
I GUESS YOU MADE YOUR POINT."
[LAUGHTER]
THE POINT IS TO POINT OTHERS TO
CHRIST.
AS WE BEAR ON OURSELVES HIS
SUFFERING AS WELL AS HIS NATURE,
WE SAY TO THE WORLD, "I TRUST A
SAVIOR BEYOND MYSELF, SO MUCH SO
I WILL GIVE MYSELF TO HIS
PURPOSES, BECAUSE HE GAVE
HIMSELF FOR MY SALVATION.
I WILL LIVE FOR HIM.
AND WHEN I FALL, HE'LL PICK ME
UP; HE'LL FORGIVE ME.
AND I'LL LIVE FOR HIM AGAIN,
BECAUSE HE GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME."

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