Coffee With The Lord

How important is our integrity?

Job went through incredible trials, testing, even the false accusations of “friends,” yet he declared… “As long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not say anything wicked, and my tongue will not utter lies … Till I die, I will not deny my integrity … my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live!” (Job 27.3-6)

As I read these words this morning during my time of “coffee with the Lord” I thought of my father, Ewalt W. Bartel… Not a perfect man (none of us are!), but a godly man! And a man I had the opportunity to watch closely … a man who went through some incredible trials!! And I testify to this fact, honoring him today … He never sacrificed his integrity! Today, other friends of mine come to mind … people who have faced incredible pressure, difficulty, temptations and challenges … I watched them… They never sacrificed or abandoned their integrity!

God help me!! I want to be that kind of person! I want my family, my wife, my children, my friends, my colleagues, AND MOST OF ALL MY GOD to be able to say that about me!!

I really don’t know how to express what I’m feeling this morning as a result of spending time with the Lord in His word!!  I just finished reading a passage from Job 26.7-14 and then Apostle Paul’s doxology in Romans 11.33-36 after he had reflected on God’s marvelous plan to save humanity… Both passages left me in awe!!!  I’ll post them for you without comment for you to read for yourself below. 

Maybe a picture will help you understand though…  Anyone who has ever been to Petra in Jordan will know the experience I’m talking about… You walk down a long, narrow passage with towering stone walls on each side (not very pleasant if you have claustrophobia! 🙂  Then your guide, dramatically stops, makes a few comments about the history of the place, takes you a few steps forward and suddenly you catch just a glimpse of one of the grandest sights on planet earth… but it is just a glimpse (look at the picture).  A few more steps and you are simply blown away by the grandeur of it all!!

Enough said… Here is what Job said…

“He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing.  He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them.  He covers the face of the full moon and spreads over it his cloud.  He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.  The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke.  By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab.  By his wind the heavens were made fair; his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.  Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” (Job 26:7–14 ESV)

And this is how Apostle Paul exploded in worship!!

 “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!  For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?  Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?  For from him and through him and to him are all things! To him be glory forever. Amen!!”  (Romans 11:33–36 ESV)

Some things can be so deceptive… Doors or gates are like that.  Entering them is one thing… what you find on the other side can be quite another!

Some entrances look so inviting, so attractive, so good … but once you enter they’re actually filled with terrible danger and death.  After you enter, you’d like to leave – you’d like to escape, but you’re trapped – the door seems locked!  Fear, even panic, grips you!

Other doors are quaint and plain – even weathered and uninviting… Who would choose this entrance anyway?  You grab the knob or take hold of the latch to the gate with a little bit of anxiety… What’s on the other side?  Someone you trust told you how to get to this door and that it was filled with treasure… Could it be?  You reach out, depending on their word… You open it and find a room filled with bounty – a place of wonder and untold blessings!

Jesus used an analogy like this to describe two ways:  The way to “destruction” – and the way to “life” (abundant life).  Here’s what He said…

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.  The gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13–14 ESV)

 I want to choose wisely.  I’ve been warned… I’ll take His word for it (rather than follow the crowd) – I believe He knows what He’s talking about, don’t you?