It’s 4AM and all is still. The neighbourhood is sound asleep – not a soul to see. You approach a familiar intersection with traffic lights. They are red, no camera. As you approach you can see clearly in all other converging roads to the crossroad – not a car in sight. The roads are empty as far as the eye can see. But the light is red.
Do you approach with caution but run the red light? Or, do you stop?
No one will ever see.
Is this a dilemma, or not?
It is not about the red light. Sure you can run it … and safely. But the issue here is one of integrity. Integrity can never be taken away… only you can give it away. Consider these few words of wisdom:
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
Proverbs 11:3
Will I run the red? Won’t I? Yes, no, yes, no… duplicity!
Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
Proverbs 10:9
It maybe clear this time… but as you do it again, and again, there may come a day that you approach the same intersection with brazen boldness and out of habit, run the red light and miss the Police parked on the side road or worse still hit a car driving without it’s lights on… who really knows. Is it worth it?
In my integrity you uphold me and set me in your presence forever.
Psalm 41:12
Lose your integrity and lose being upheld in the presence of God? It’s just a red light… or is it?
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Titus 2:7-8
We can not do this in our own strength. In my own strength, I would run the red light. But God’s Grace prevails and my resolve to guard my integrity is forged… and I stop… and wait.
Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.
2 Corinthians 1:12
So let me ask you again.
Do you approach with caution and run the red light? Or, do you stop?