Authenticity or integrity, what is it? My handy-dandy MS word dictionary here says:
Authentic- genuineness, the genuineness or truth of something.
The bible uses the word integrity a good bit which upon literal interpretation usually means:
innocent, simplicity, completeness, fullness.
I have been thinking about my own personal authenticity this week. See, I strive daily to be a person of integrity, authentic to who I really am; who God says I am. Because I am in Christ, He sees me as innocent, complete and whole. Sounds a lot like authenticity does it not? So why is it so difficult at times to live the authentic life I long for? I think it’s because often I allow other’s opinions and perceptions alter how act. Sometimes, my own wounded-ness caused by living life on this earth has altered in my mind who I think I am. Somewhere down the line, I got the messages that “ I alone am not enough”,” my best is not good enough”, “if I am not doing nice things, I am not enough”,” if I appear weak, I am not enough”, “if I don’t act a certain way, I am not enough”,” if I feel sad or angry, I am not good enough”, “If I question life or God, I am bad”,” If I am not always smiling and helping out others, I am not good enough”, and on and on and on….
It is exhausting trying to live up to the unattainable standard that I have imposed on myself. What right do I have to think that I am not enough, when God Himself has deemed me of infinite value simply because I have breath in my lungs? If I were authentic, I would live my life through the lense of God. It is when I life my life with the simple faith of a child that I am who He says I am, that I am genuinely authentic. When I realize the simple truth that my value has NOTHING to do with me or what I do, or say or feel and EVERYTHING about what price that was paid for me. Then I am simply authentic. God paid the price of the life of His only Son to pay for the debt that I could never ever pay so that I could be the real me.
