“The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains” (Micah 7:2 NIV)
Micah started with a grave statement; “Woe is me” (Michal 7:1a). Why, because of the disappearance of people of godly character and integrity. “I look at how people are living, and what I see across the nation is that godly character is being swept away. I look for models of upright living, but I’m not seeing them.” This is a fearful picture of a deprived, corrupted and demoralised state of society – a loss of men of character and integrity and the rise of individuals and groups of people with their own agendas and self-interest that has replaced the common good. Micah lamented, “As I look at what is happening among God’s people, it breaks my heart!”
Is this not the picture we see everywhere today, even in the church? The need for men of character and integrity today is perhaps as great as it has ever been. To justify our depravity, many view integrity as an out-dated idea whereas according to the order of heaven it remains the only prerequisite to credibility. Integrity involves an inner sense of wholeness which results from being consistently honest and morally upright and it is crucial in all aspects of life: professional, personal, social and spiritual.
There is no other way to it, integrity is the basic element of Christian character. It is the first characteristic of those welcomed into God’s presence (Ps.15:2). It is the first characteristic that distinguishes godly leadership: “So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands” (Ps.78:72). Integrity is not determined by circumstances, based on credentials and is not to be confused with reputation. A person with the integrity of heart is a morally and spiritually healthy individual.
We have drifted from God, let us turn back to God and ask He builds us over again. The Scripture says “Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls” (I Peter 2:25). Turning back to God is more than words and plans -it’s action! It’s repentance without excuses or hesitations! (See: Acts 26:20; Matthew 3:8; Titus 2:14;3:8). It is in our turning that God will turn back