This week, former United States President, Jimmy Carter was laid to rest.
Jimmy Carter took office in 1977. He campaigned that he would never tell a lie to the American people, and he would never mislead the American people.
Truth telling and integrity was a huge issue with the American people at the time. There was a crisis of confidence during the Vietnam War as to whether our government was telling us the truth. That crisis was followed by the lies and corruption exposed in the Nixon Administration during the Watergate scandal. The American people could not believe their president during that time.
The American people were yearning for a government which would tell the truth.
The administration of Jimmy Carter ultimately became unpopular because of inflation, the high price of gas and the Iranian Hostage Crisis. But, I have never heard that Jimmy Carter ever broke his promise to the American people to never lie to them.
Carter’s post-Presidential life was exemplary as he and his wife, Rosalynn, lived out their Christian lives, eradicating diseases from African countries, resolving international conflicts and working with Habitat for Humanity. There is a lesson here for those who are retired. Retirement is a season of life when we can live out God’s ministry to help others.
While Carter spoke softly, his soft demeanor may have caused some not to see his strength. Many did not understand his background of being trained in discipline by the stern and extremely competent Admiral Rickover of the United States Navy. Carter had served in the new atomic submarine service under Rickover.
Carter’s concern with truth telling also came from his strong faith in Jesus Christ.
Truth telling and integrity are a result of truly living a life in Christ.
Integrity and truth telling are at the core of Christian living. When we meet a man or woman or young person who speaks with truth and integrity, we never forget it. We can trust them. They keep their promises. They follow through.
Truth telling and integrity are part of God’s love for us that works deeply into our souls to cause our transformational lives to become “new creatures in Christ.” Christians are to be full of love, integrity and truth. The nature of Christ is truth. John 1:14 says:
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
God is the Creator and author of truth. The promises of God of an abundant life and eternal life are true. We can trust in the truth of God’s Word, and we can trust in the truth of God’s love for our eternal future. I hope you are taking pleasure in the freedom and good feeling of being a person of truth and integrity in your community.
Dr. Roger Holl is pastor of Sterling Grace Community Church, which meets at the Sterling Senior Center at 10:30 on Sundays. He is also Director of VisionAlaska, which has established the Children’s Agricultural Food Project to feed orphans in Central Africa.
