Scripture tells us in Luke 6:43-45 that our words will always reveal what our heart is.
[43] “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, [44] for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. [45] The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
(Luke 6:43-45 ESV)
How often do we say "I know what my heart is. What I said earlier is not a true reflection of my heart." I think it's time to accept that the things I say are a direct representation of my heart. As humans we are sinful by nature.
[21] For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, [22] coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
(Mark 7:21-22 ESV)
I know in my mind who I want to be, and by the Holy Spirit, through Christ, God reveals who He want's me to be. I can think I am who God wants me to be all I want, but by looking at my actions, by listening to my words, I can see who I really am. my first though is to say "I am no Jesus" but it sounds like I'm saying "I have my moments of holiness, but I mess up." That's wrong. I am a sinner through and through. It is my nature. I am a bad tree. Who am I to say I have done anything good.
Good is a word associated with God. God is not the example of good He is good. So to say something is good is to say it is "of God". If my nature is to do evil, how am I to say something I do is good(of God) if God cannot commit any actions of evil? If anything done by me is good that tells me that I am not the one who did it, rather God worked through me.
It almost sounds hopeless. Like I can never meet God's standards no matter how hard I try. Well, that's true. I cannot do good because I am not good. we see that in the earlier verse
[43] “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit"
(Luke 6:43 ESV)
So, if God is a "good tree" and man is a "bad tree" then we need some help.
[23] For the wages of sin is death..."
(Romans 6:23a ESV)
Again, not so hopeful.
[23] "...but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. "
(Romans 6:23b ESV)
There's the hope.
What if that "good tree" were to take on all of my "bad fruit"? That tree would not look so appealing anymore. Then that tree gets beaten down and thrown into the fire because of all the bad fruit thats on it? This already happened. Jesus, the "good tree", took on all of the "bad fruit" of humanity and was thrown into the fire for it when it should be us. But He rose again and he tells us, "Hey! I did that for you. I took all your 'bad fruit' upon Myself and paid the price you earned. Now you can either deny what I did, and because you're still a 'bad tree' you will still be thrown into the fire, or you can accept that I did it for you and I will cover you with My 'sap' and when the day comes for the 'forest' to be taken down they will see My 'sap' on you and you will be made into a 'new tree' and 'good tree'."
I guess, since my natural actions are sinful I need to ask for His help. Biblical integrity is something that is good. It is "of God" and that means, if I want to have biblical integrity I need to look to the One from Whom it comes. God.
