“Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” — Proverbs 10:9

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Like many who grew up in the 1990s, the home run chase between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa in 1998 is a core childhood memory for me. I was ushered into St. Louis Cardinals fandom during the 1996 season, thanks to my brother, but the summer of ’98 is where my love for the Cardinals truly took off.

Like most everyone who watched as the two sluggers raced to break the record of 61 home runs set by Roger Maris, I was enthralled. McGwire ended up getting to No. 62 first and ended the season with 70 home runs — a record that stood until Barry Bonds hit 73 in 2001.

As an adult, I still appreciate the magic that 1998 season brought to 8-year-old me. But overall, my view is much different now. In the years since, we learned that McGwire was using performance-enhancing drugs, and was one of many players doing the same. The game of baseball is still dealing with the effects of that to some degree to this day.

Some of the drugs McGwire took were legal at the time, and others were illegal. Baseball writers and fans have debated on the ethical and moral implications of all of this, and numerous players from that era have effectively been blacklisted by the Baseball Hall of Fame due to their confirmed use or even suspicion of using PEDs. For anyone who cares about integrity, it’s hard to argue with that.

I look back on that season now and can’t help but wonder how all of the players going about their game honestly and through natural means felt watching McGwire and others get celebrated for their achievements, knowing that they were taking shortcuts to get there. They were cheating, yet they were being celebrated and given awards. It wasn’t fair.

What’s even worse is that when this issue was brought to Congress and McGwire was pressed on it, he initially wasn’t truthful. He wasn’t even man enough to own up to his mistake until years later. He wasn’t carrying himself with integrity on or off the field.

As Christians, that is no way for us to live. We are called to be above reproach (Titus 1:7), to walk with integrity (Proverbs 10:9), have a clear conscience (1 Peter 3:16) and live righteously and justly (Proverbs 21:3). There are dozens of other verses that speak to how Christians should live and carry themselves with high character and integrity in their work, relationships and personal lives. We are not to be deceitful, greedy or dishonest. Instead, we are called to live graciously and love sacrificially.

“The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit,” Proverbs 28:18 says.

Sometimes life is going to be unjust, and it’s frustrating to see others cut corners or cheat their way to get a promotion or a job or an award that we desire. It can be tempting for us to fall into the same trap in order to pursue our own selfish desires.

But whether in sports, your work or your everyday life, choose the path of integrity. Be the same person in private as you are in public. Trust that honoring God in how you live matters more than any shortcut to success, and that His hand is steady over those who walk faithfully.

— Cole Claybourn

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