Integrity, Jack Bauer and Joseph

Say what you want to about Jack Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland) of the television show "24", at least he is a man of integrity. He follows through on what is right for the good of the country, without compromise.

We saw that in last night's episode. Jack always puts country first, whether is means him surviving or not. He will not compromise with anyone in this endeavor, even if it means disagreeing with those who are above him as his work superiors.

To refresh your memory, Jack Bauer is a federal agent who is working this season to protect our country from a biological attack.

I can remember the first season, where Jack was put in charge of guarding a presidential candidate from an assassination attempt.

He was given that responsibility because in the uncertain world of espionage he possesses that rare character trait of integrity.

In the show’s first episode, Jack’s integrity is already put to the test. Because he turned in other federal agents for bribery, some of his own comrades have turned against him. In particular, Jack’s immediate boss has come down hard on him and tried to persuade Jack not to be so honest in his job.

Jack has an explosive confrontation with his boss and will not budge on this point. Just after the confrontation, Jack bristles with intensity as he explains his actions to his closest partner.

“You can look the other way once, and it’s no big deal, except it makes it easier for you to compromise the next time. And pretty soon, that’s all you’re doing, compromising, because that’s how you think things are done. You know those guys I blew the whistle on? You think they were the bad guys? They weren’t the bad guys. They were just like you and me, except they compromised once.”

Great spiritual lesson. All it takes is one compromise and the enemy pounces on that in our lives and we find ourselves taking a downward path. There seems to be an almost black and white approach in the Word toward Good and Evil.

We must deal in a sense, violently, with those temptations that come our way.

If you have a problem with alcohol, stay away from bars.
If you have a problem with pornography, stay away from the Internet.
If you have a problem with gossip, gets some new friends. As someone once said, "if you don't want to get stung, then stay away from the bees."

Well, you get the point.

This summer we are going to look at the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Joseph was tempted by a Potiphar's wife. She was laying in bed one day and said, "Come lie with me." Now that's what I call a temptation. Nothing subtle about that.

Yet, Joseph, by his very character and walk with God, knew that one compromise would lead to another and yet to another still. The Bible states, "he fled". He got out of there. He ran. No compromise.

In that way, Joseph and Jack Bauer are a lot a like.

And it's more than ironic that both ended up saying their respective countries from the "bad guys."

Just a thought for a Tuesday.