In the world of “you can’t prove what you didn’t see” thinking, comes refreshing news of someone who understands that when no one is watching, is the true test of your integrity. So often in the world today we are quick to attempt to get away with doing the wrong thing because no one is looking. We tend to forget that there is always “Someone” watching our every step, move and decision. The true test of a man’s character is when he is alone and has to make a decision between right and wrong. There is just simply no right way to do the wrong thing!! I don’t claim to have been a life-long saint myself, and have often given in to what is considered “human nature” and sinned. That so-called “human nature” is actually the “sin” nature that we were born with, because of the decision that was made by Adam and Eve, that still affects us every day. We can never be totally free of that and be “sinless” but with the conviction of the Word of God, we can be in a state that we “sin-less”. I don’t consider myself a sinner, not because I don’t ever commit a sin, but because I don’t practice sin. By practice, I mean commit it without any conviction and without humbling myself to ask the Lord for forgiveness when I do sin. I don’t consider it anything that I am doing because I am so great and righteous. I give God the glory because he has given me the “Holy Spirit” that convicts me when I do mess up, and prompts me to ask for forgiveness. So for that I am thankful. But in no way do I consider myself special or even better than one who practices sin! I just feel blessed that I am in a place in my life that I do recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit when it speaks conviction to me.
J.P Hayes is a professional golfer that realized during a golf tournament last week that he played a non-sanctioned ball on two holes. The tournament that he was playing was a qualifier tournament that would have given him exemption for the entire 2009 season. This also would have saved him a great deal of money because he would not have had to enter into the qualifying rounds of tournaments, therefore reducing the risk of not making tournaments by failing to qualify. When J.P realized a day later that he had played a non-sanctioned ball for multiple holes which is a violation, he reported himself to the officials and was penalized. Now there are two things about him playing the wrong ball in the tournament. One is the fact that his caddy actually gave him the ball from his golf bag. So he could have easily blamed his caddy. Two is that no one knew that he played this ball, not even his caddy. He just simply did not pay it any attention. Now this is where Hayes integrity really kicked in. Only he and God knew of this error. He could have gone on and finished with the tour exemption for next season and saved himself the risk of losing ton’s of money. But Hayes convictions kicked in, and he did the thing that God desired of him. He was honest and admitted his wrong.
Now I have read many stories about how Hayes has cost himself by making the decision that he made. Many feel that he has made the worst mistake of his golfing career by being honest and admitting to a wrong that no one else would have known about. But Hayes knew, and more than that God knew. The word of God says, “The just man walketh in his integrity, his children are blessed after him” (Proverbs 20:7 ) If you read this in the Amplified bible, it explains that his children will be blessed, but after him. Meaning two things here, he will be blessed for his integrity even before the blessings are passed down to his children. But also that the integrity, or lack thereof that he shows now, will affect his children on down the line.
Something to think about when you have an opportunity and no one is looking!!