“He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.” (Proverbs 10:9)

Integrity has been described as doing the right thing even when nobody is looking. When we try to hide our sinful behavior behind a mask of lies, we live with the constant fear of somebody finding out. All of us know this experience to some degree. Some of us stay on track most of the time and only occasionally have to fear being found out, but others have lied so much to cover their tracks that they don’t remember what’s true anymore.

A clear conscience is a treasure, but it doesn’t just happen. We can experience the peace of a clean heart and an uncluttered mind only if we make a rigorous commitment to live our lives in the presence of God and when we fail, make things right quickly. There’s nothing quite as chilling as knowing that you’re being watched. When we live with the confidence that everything we do passes under the eyes of God, we will make sure we don’t stray off tracks. But were human, and our sinful nature gets the best of us from time to time. When that happens, the Holy Spirit taps us on the shoulder and says “Hey I saw what you did, and it was wrong.” We have a choice of saying in effect, “Go away!” or “Yes, Lord, You’re right. That was sins, and I thank You for forgiving me.”

Everything we do is already known to God, and someday everything will be revealed to those we have tried to fool. It’s a much wiser course to walk with integrity now.