Walking Securely

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.  - Proverbs 10:9

One thing our society has a strong thirst for is security. we are always looking to be safe and secure not wanting to worry about what may or may not happen to us as we live out our lives. Many are even willing to give up certain freedoms to have that sense of feeling that everything is going to be alright. But usually this type of security has to do with tangible items. We want to feel physically safe, financially safe and even emotionally safe. 
But there is another security that is often overlooked that the Bible addresses here. This is the security within yourself. A security of being guiltless before God and your fellow man. Someone who has something to hide does not have a secure heart. The guilt, the shame, the lies, the coverup all swell within oneself bringing about a fear of being found out. Anyone who is honest has nothing to hide and feels secure because their word is their bond. Yet those with hidden sins have the anxiety of their darkness being exposed by the light. A crooked lifestyle is a heavy weight to carry in life’s journey. 
Where as being one of integrity has no burden to bare because they are honest and trustworthy to all. They have no worry of being found out because they haven’t hidden anything to be found. One thing that has immeasurable value is your character. No matter how much money you have, no matter what your social status may be, no matter what you own, no matter your popularity, integrity is more precious than all of those combined. 
The coverup is always worse than the crime and there have been many people through the ages who have tarnished their image because their covered sins were dug up for the world to see. Politicians, celebrities, athletes and even pastors have been exposed for their crooked ways that they tried to hide from the public eye. Now with the new age of social media, there is a new platform that displays to the world who you are. Too many have learned the hard way that deleting something doesn’t permanently erase it.  Scores are being found out with words and images that were conducted years ago, when they thought it was deleted from their account. New athletes and politicians hire tech experts to “scrub out” their social media accounts to try and keep hidden what has been in the dark for so many years. And when the wrongdoing is exposed the person is no longer trustworthy. Their integrity has vanished. There is no credit left with the onlookers. From now on everything will be second guessed and people will always think twice.
 Why carry such a needless burden? Why be weighted down with fear and anxiety? If you play with fire long enough you will get burned. No sin that you bury will remain underground forever. No matter how big a hole you dig to bury it, God will not be mocked, your sin will always be found out. Even if you may be “lucky” enough to keep it from the world, you will never keep it from God. “For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:4) Even Jesus Himself warned us about this,"But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” (Luke 12:2)
Yet despite the Bible’s warnings many still go on believing it is better to hide their sin. We believe the lies in our heart that if we confess our sin we will hurt others. We get duped into thinking it would be better if certain people never found out. But that is never wise. Live securely with a clean heart. Confess your sins to God and to those you have sinned against. Live with integrity and be honest in all your dealings. Then you will have a security that is priceless.