The trail had a way of grinding people down, burning off the dross to transform them into something leaner, harder. It didn’t matter who you were before; you either learned how to survive, or the endless prairies, washed-out trails, and indifferent mountains would swallow you whole.”
–E.J. West (The Last Trail)
“Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace.”
–Psalm 37:37 (NKJV)
———————————-
“He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.” –Proverbs 10:9 (NKJV)
“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” –(NIV)
This is the easier path versus the person on the sure path. That hard path, the one that the Lord offers, is sure. It is walking before God not before men, this was the path that Enoch took–a life of fellowship and obedience. His testimony was “that he pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5, NKJV) That is the man of integrity, the upright man. It is what God says about Job, “a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil.” (Job 1:8, NKJV) It does not mean perfect or sinless but a man, like David, who sought God with all his heart despite human flaws.
This is the person of integrity–the person who is sound in their moral character. Bob Beasley says, “A man or woman of integrity is one who has adapted certain moral principles in life and then walks according to them.” People like Enoch, Job, and many others. They walk according to the Bible; it is “only the Bible that can bind his conscience.” (Beasley) This is “making God the master of every thought, word, temper, and motive.” (Charles Bridges) It is not always an easy walk, but it is a sure walk. The steps are guided and ordered by God and they are made secure. It is like Joshua, neither looking to the left or to the right, but focusing on the path in front, the way that the Lord has given. The great theologian Isaac Barrow says, “He therefore moveth forward with courage, there being within him nothing to make him halt, to distract or disturb him.” His face is like flint on the road ahead, the destination fixed in his mind, and he doesn’t waver but continues onward to his destination.
You have heard that honesty is the best policy. So true, the honest person, the person of honor, of integrity walks forward. David writes, “But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; redeem me and be merciful to me.” (Psalm 26:11, NKJV) This is a sure walk, but there is another way. One who perverts his way, or one who takes crooked paths. There seems to be a difference in translation, but really there is not. The journey of life is there, all of us are on it; but some will choose to pervert the way for one reason or another or for many. Some will seek to gain advantage, take shortcuts, compromise the truth, follow their own opinion rather than what God has spoken, they will find they are on a perverted course. This was spoken of about Judas, one of the twelve, one chosen by Jesus Himself–his ways became perverted. John wrote that “he was a thief.” (12:6)
There are those who “pervert nature in order to attain their ends.” (J.L. Flores) Read those that Paul writes about in Romans 1. Perverting the truth, fulfilling selfish purposes, turning from God–these are on the crooked and dangerous path that leads to perdition.
There is not an option if we are to follow Christ. The words given to Abraham when he was old still bind us today, “Walk before Me and be blameless.” (Genesis 17:1) Adam forsook the sure way and was cast out. Cain perverted the path that God wanted and became a murderer and a wanderer. “The man that walks uprightly is a restorer of man’s ancient dignity as a walker with God.” (Flores) This walk is not only for the present life but it continues on into eternity. The Prophet Jeremiah writes for us to heed, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls….” (6:16, NKJV) Do not be like those that are condemned in the last phrase of the verse, “we will not walk in it.” Those are the ones who pervert their ways. Be secure in your walk; follow the path that God has laid out for you. It may not be the easiest, but it is the surest. The same is true for each of us–walk the way of the Lord and there will be everlasting rest and peace for your soul.