In simple terms it may be understood that the criminal law is based on ‘Mens rea‘ which means ‘guilty mind/intention’ in Latin. Therefore, the jury has to consider the intentions of the accused person before they give their verdict. Therefore, it may be understood that the intentions of the person have greater importance for judgment than the action of the same person. If a soldier kills an enemy for the security of his nation, there will be no punishment for this action as it comes under his lines of duty. Whereas, the same soldier kills an ordinary citizen of his country, will his nation leave him for his crime?
What about us? How will God, the supreme judge, consider our actions? Generally, for every one of us the following sequence for an action may be noticed.
Your intentions -> thought/plan -> actions -> results -> judgment by God
In this connection, read this verse –But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife. But Abimelech had not come near her: and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother : in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this. And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. Genesis 20:3-6.
Abimelech was a king. And Abraham journeyed to Gerar. He was afraid of the king of Gerar and had said about his wife Sarah as his sister. Therefore, the king took sarah. And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. Genesis 20:1-2. Actually she was his sister but he married her. With regard to this, there already was a clear mutual understanding between Abraham and Sarah. And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me ; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother. Genesis 20:13. Therefore, Abraham said – she is my sister. In this context, did the God fearing Abraham lie to king of Gerar?
In this context, look at intentions of the following two persons from their point of view of –
(1) Abimelech – Abraham said that Sarah was his sister. Therefore, there was nothing wrong to take a woman who resides/ dwells in my country as I was a king of this land. I did not take her by force. Nor had I taken neighbor’s wife. His intention to take her was nothing wrong. In this connection, the Lord warned Abimelech in a dream. At the same time, you may notice what the Lord had told him – Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart. Therefore, there was no harm done either to Abimelech or to his kingdom..
(2) Abraham – As there was no fear of God in every place where ever he wandered He thought that –“they will slay me for my wife’s sake. Genesis 20:11”. Therefore, as in this connection I had already communicated with my wife what she had to tell when there seems a danger to his life for her sake. From his point of view – she was a sister before she had become his wife. His intention was to save himself. He might have also thought that the Lord would not consider this specific lie as sin and the Lord would definitely save his wife Sarah as He, who promised him to give the land of honey and milk, would not leave his wife with the king of Gerar. (Had he not married her, she would have continued as his sister. But, after his marriage with her, she would never turn to be his sister. Hence, we may consider this would be a lie.). In this context, you may notice that the Lord was not angry with Abraham. He neither had asked why Abraham lied to Abimelech. Does it mean that God will encourage speaking lies to your neighbor? No, never. Would God be with a man who speaks lies? Then, why did God warn Abimelech the king of Gerar on behalf of Abraham? It is because his intentions were matched with the Lord
This instance may be taken as an example how God sees your actions. You have noticed what the Lord has told Abimelech when he has defended himself from the wrath of God.
(1) He said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? (2) Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother : in the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.
God also agreed and said- Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart. Therefore, there comes the thought of integrity while he judges your actions. The definition of integrity is –steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code. Hence, it may be understood that Abimelech had taken Sarah on the basis of what both Abraham and Sarah had told him. Therefore, the Lord had seen or in other words, he had said that his actions were adhered to moral code of natural law or law of the land even the law of the Lord. He had judged that there was no fault with Abimelech in this action. But you may ask why did God close up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech? So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed Abimelech, and his wife, and his maidservants ; and they bare children. For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Genesis 20:18-20. This was like a conditional bail to leave Abimelech which cannot be considered as punishment.
Therefore, if your actions are with integrity, you’re the most blessed one. It is because God loves and blesses them. God gives his testimony too before all including Satan. Read this verse- And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. Job 2:3. From the instance of Job, the integrity can be better understood. In the words of Job, the best definition of integrity can be noticed. Job said – Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord Job 1:21. This means that we need to worship God in all conditions and always. This is the moral code given by the Lord to the mankind.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. Matthew 22:37-38. This verse says that you should love your God always. In the first commandment of the Lord, there is no such condition that you have to love Him only when He does well to you. Therefore, it can be deducted that you have to love Him even when there seems nothing good happened or there is appearing harm even while you are with Him. The concept of integrity is to be in steadfast to the strict moral code was well understood by Job. This was the reason he said unto his wife – when she spoke – Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die. Job 2:9. Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil ? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. Job 2:10
Also, in general terms, it may be understood that is it moral if you leave person, from who received great help in your troubles, when he has done something that caused inconvenience to you? Therefore, in our context, as Christians we need to steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code in all circumstance. This will be our integrity. Therefore, our intentions should be thoroughly verified with the moral code of the Lord. The moral code is nothing but His thoughts written in the word of God. Before, you jump into any action, just verify your intentions in the light of word of God, whether they be consistent with His thoughts. Therefore, hold fast your integrity as his servant Job had understood Lord’s moral code. The following change of your mind pattern may change your life.
(1)Your intentions –> (2) Match whether they match with His moral code/Word of God –> (3) accordingly modify your thoughts or leave them if they are against Him -> (4) holds your integrity — > (5) then do your actions -> (6) results good –> (5) judgment by God for your reward. As you know the Bible says – So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Romans 14:12