It's a Goner!

Demolition is a sight to behold! Several years ago, I witnessed the demolition of a massive hospital, and I stood amazed as years’ worth of labor crumbled in seconds. The meticulous placement of dynamite systematically compromised the structure, and it folded like a house of cards.

 I thought of that experience driving past another demolition site recently. It was almost celebrated carelessness as the walls collapsed. There was no precision or measuring. All the planning and labor scraped to a slab overnight.

That’s an important life principle to remember. We live in a beautiful but broken world that gravitates toward atrophy. It’s easier to destruct something than it is to construct something.

Our lives aren’t so different from a construction project. We may take it for granted but every day we make choices that are either constructive or destructive. Destructive choices are the easy and natural option. Our flesh wants instant gratification but what feels good in the moment is rarely the wise choice. Satan is crafty and knows how to place the dynamite in compromising positions. Those weak points that can bring down our walls. It takes intentionality and discipline to build something of significance and one poor choice to bring it crashing down. That may not seem fair but it’s life.

Large building projects are impressive but it’s the intangible of integrity that builds up a name. And a good name is difficult to build. The wisest person to live once said, “A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.” (Proverbs 22:1) Wealth can buy a lot of things but not integrity. Integrity is a consistent pattern of doing the right thing regardless of the circumstances. It’s honoring the ever-present God through the decisions of our life.

A lifestyle of integrity takes years to construct and a moment to deconstruct. The grace of God surpasses our failures, but the value of our name is built at the pace of integrity.

As I observed busted boards and other materials being dumped into a truck, I started processing through a life of integrity. I’ve made decisions in the past that have devalued my name and I know the challenge of restoration. But the wise choice is always the path of integrity.

A good name is better than wealth. My dad would often remind me to remember who I am. The choices made would develop the reputation by which I was known. My dad would also remind me to whom I belonged. As Jesus followers, we represent His name and that is a privilege. We get to point people to Jesus through our lives.

Every day is a new day! And every day is a day we get to choose to construct our lives on a foundation of integrity or flirt with destruction. It’s hard to say “no” to what we might want in the moment, but the joy of the Lord is real. There is blessing in obedience. And the best part for Jesus followers is that we don’t have to white knuckle our way into a life of integrity. God gives us His Spirit that empowers us as we yield our lives to His strength within us!