Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

…

Those who despise flagrant sinners,
    and honor the faithful followers of the Lord,
    and keep their promises even when it hurts.

-Psalm 15:1b, 4, NLT

A certain behavior really angers me. It is when people tell me one thing and do the opposite. It is something that grates on a gut-level for me.

This is probably why I made such a great mark for a cheater. The thought of living this way is not tenable for me.

You make a promise, and you keep that promise. If you do not keep the promise–as no one is perfect–you do everything in your power to make it right for the person you harmed by breaking your word. It is pretty simple.

In a word, this is…

INTEGRITY.

Living with integrity is often hard work. However, it is worth it, in my opinion. Integrity brings peace.

I believe that peace or rest is what comes from being able to abide with the Lord as the Psalmist suggests in the verses above. One needs integrity to live in God’s Presence. Plus, when we abide in God’s Presence, we receive the gift of His rest and peace.

That said, I know some cheaters appear to have peace. If they are not living with integrity, then this is not a godly peace. It is simply the peace that comes from a dead conscience, which ultimately leads to one’s destruction (Hebrews 10:26-27).