Proverbs 10:9: Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. Proverbs 28:18: Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.
A number of years ago, I took an afternoon drive through a new subdivision. The homes were in various stages of development, so it was a great opportunity to learn how houses were built. While walking through one house that was being framed, I noticed that it looked like the framers took a lot of short pieces and put them together to finish framing parts of the house. So instead of one long 2 x 4, there would be 2 or 3 pieces nailed together.
Also I noticed that half the pieces had dark patches on them. Looking closer I realized it was mold; it had been raining a lot recently and the wood had been left out in the rain. As long as the wood stayed dry, the mold would be under control; if it got wet, there would be issues. But once the sheetrock was up, the new home owners would never know what was underneath. Potential problems were covered.
Often we have a tendency to “sheetrock” over our motives, thoughts, habits and feelings, and even try to hide some of our actions. We use smiles, deception, and diversions to cover up our shortcomings and those things that we know are contrary to the will and commands of God. As long as we look good to others, we think we’re okay.
But God honors integrity: adherence to His moral and ethical principles; soundness and
honesty. Anything else, including the world’s shifting standards, is “crooked”.
What’s under the “sheetrock” of your life? Are you trying to hide something that is contrary to His principles and will for your life? We all have shortcomings, but that’s why, as believers, we have a High Priest who can help us out in our time of need (Hebrews 4:14 – 16). We all sin and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). But if we walk in the light of His integrity, the blood of Jesus will cleanse us from all sin (1 John 1:6 – 8). Choose to walk in integrity. God already knows what’s behind the sheetrock of your life, and eventually your actions will reveal what’s in your heart (Proverbs 20:11).