Integrity Is Everything
Did you know that God can prevent you from sinning against Him?
It is a known fact that God gave each person a choice to do good or evil.
Before the children of Israel entered the Promised Land, the Lord directed Moses to give them some options.
They were to choose between good or evil, death or life, blessing or cursing. Moses encouraged the Israelites to choose life so that they and their descendants can live (Deuteronomy 30:11-20).
The same choices are placed before us and it is up to us to decide which path we will follow.
Many people choose the broad road that leads to destruction while very few people follow the narrow path to life.
If you choose the pathway to evil the Lord will send you warning through His Word or servants, but He will not force you to surrender to Him.
If you know the right thing to do, but choose instead to do evil, the Holy Spirit will convict you of sin but He will not compel or coerce you.
If you lack knowledge of the truth but have a humble and obedient heart, the Lord will stop you from sinning unknowingly.
An example of this is the story of Abraham and King Abimelech.
Out of fear, Abraham told the king that his wife Sarah was his sister. Sarah was a beautiful woman and Abraham was afraid that the king would kill him to posses her if he knew he was her husband.
In spite of this, the king still took Sarah to his palace.
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man’s wife. (Genesis 20:3)
For the entire duration of Sarah’s abode in the king’s house, he could not touch her because the Lord prevented him from committing adultery with her.
The king was ashamed and pleaded with the Lord for mercy.
And God said to him in a dream, “Yes, I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her.
Now, therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.” ( Genesis 20:6-7)
The Lord knew the heart of the king that he was a man of integrity and would never knowingly took another man’s wife so He stopped the king before he sinned.
The following morning king Abimelech returned Sarah to her husband. He also gave Abraham sheep, oxen, male and female servants and money to exonerate himself.
Afterward, Abraham prayed for the king and the curse of barrenness was lifted from all the females in His household.
Living a life of integrity and uprightness can vindicate for you in times of sickness and death (2 Kings 20)
Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. (Psalm 26:1)
Having a heart of integrity will secure you from sinning ignorantly.
He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known. (Proverbs 10:9)
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