Proverbs 11:3

"The integrity of the upright shall guide them; but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them." ~Proverbs 11:3

I just completed a book for review by Marvin Olasky called "Scimitar's Edge" to be released in June of this year. I won't do my review now, since it is scheduled for first rights in another publication, but I will say the book could have used this Proverb as it's guiding theme. One of the issues discussed by the characters in this book is if there is good in this world, and there is, then we must acknowledge that there is also evil, and there is. And there are varying degrees of goodness and evil.

Those who have integrity of spirit and virtuous character will allow those strengths to be what motivates them in life. But those who are motivated by evil will be destroyed by that evil. We might see them as successful now, but in the full scheme of things, they will not obtain ultimate reward.

These are true statements, but there is one missing element. We all have some degree of evil in us because we were all born with an imperfect human nature. We will not have what it takes within us to overcome that human nature. We need supernatural intervention in the form of a Savior, Who paid the price for us to obtain ultimate reward, but also indwells His followers so we might grow in integrity. It's not about how good we can get on our own, but on how yielded we are to His guidance in our lives.

Either way, it is a matter of discipline. But that discipline is sweet when it is motivated by the love we have for our Savior, rather than the guilt and fear we have for failure. Love will be the guiding force to victory.