Inside Out!
It was published on August 12, 2006 in The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
John Edgar Caterson, MRC Lead Pastor
A couple of years ago, a friend of mine wrote his son a series of letters on character. Recently, I paraphrased his thoughts on integrity and wrote a letter to my eleven-year-old son.
My son, as I look back on my life, I have found an interesting and clear pattern in my memory. I recognize that there are many times I have failed; really blown it; or messed up. But the only ones that stay with me as regrets are the ones where I violated my heart. I am coming to learn that in the end there are no failures except the failure of character. You see, everything else is about what you do, but failures of integrity are about who you are.
My son, never fear failure but live your life with such passion that you risk greatly while attempting great things. Make opportunity your friend; just never compromise your integrity. Protect your heart. Let your defining characteristic be whom you serve. Remember the strength of your character will get you back on your feet when you fall. Also keep in mind, Jesus Christ has transformed you from the inside out. He has replaced your hardened heart and has given you the heart of God. Each day I see that you are learning that integrity is about desiring God and trusting your passions. Strength and honor, Dad.
I believe that our culture is in desperate need of integrity. But there seems to be few shining examples. I thank God for the example of Jesus Christ.
Two thousand years ago a group of people addressing Jesus said, “Teacher we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are� (Matthew 22).
Jesus Christ teaches us that integrity gives us the courage to live lives of conviction. Integrity demands that we do what we are and are what we do. Jesus Christ gave us the ultimate example of integrity in his life, death, and resurrection. In him we see the heart of God being joined with the heart of man.
Followers of Christ must also have such a heart. For it moves us to intervene on behalf of the powerless as Christ did. A God-shaped heart realizes and experiences the heartbeat of God pounding in our chests. Erwin McManus puts it this way, “What brings God pleasure brings us pleasure. What angers God brings our blood to boil. Integrity will not stand by and watch the wicked oppress the weak.�
Today Jesus Christ invites us to follow him and be transformed from the inside out. Imagine our world if you said yes!