Paul doesn’t start his defense with a theological argument; he starts with his life. He acknowledges that his reputation—both the good and the bad—is public knowledge.
Integrity isn’t about having a perfect past, but about being honest about where you’ve been. When we are transparent about our history, we build credibility.
I hit rock bottom after I publicly disgraced myself by getting drunk and gambling away my paycheck in front of my friends. The worst part came when I had to face my wife when I got home. She was waiting for me to bring her the money I lost so she could go grocery shopping.
Out of that horrible experience, I couldn’t blame anyone but myself. It was then that I realized that the selfish pleasure I was seeking to satisfy my carnal appetite was also destroying my marriage. Something had to change.
My failure forced me to come out of the darkness of denial and begin facing the reality that my addictions to alcohol and gambling had me in bondage. A few weeks later, God brought a man into my life who loved Jesus and started sharing his faith with me.
I didn’t realize it at the time, but the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was preparing me for an event that would transform my life and change me forever.