HONESTY, in not a very fashionable word today. It goes together with another word that is hard to find demonstrated in world society at this juncture; the word 'INTEGRITY'. And without a working understanding and demonstration of these words world society is seriously compromised, and without visible accountability.
Where are we to look, for example, forplainness of speech; simple language which actually means what it says? We have duplicity, insincerity, and even plain deceit blatantly spoken orally on our radios, T.V.s and other electronic media. The world of commerce regularly presents misleading and even untrue descriptions and facts about what it is trying to sell. The politician likewise uses words to make promises he or she cannot keep, and sometimes do not intend to keep; they lie more than admit the truth. We present ourselves and our point of view dressed up and made respectable without reference as to the HONESTY of our words or presentation. And without TRUTH, honesty, and the integrity to use them, the whole world's atmosphere can be changed for the worst, since lies and misrepresentation of truth can plunge us all into negative thoughts and ideas. A very apt depiction of this can be found in the character of 'Wormtongue' as portrayed in the Lord of the Rings, and his effect as a councillor to the King of the Mark. Wormtongue has a 'forked-tongue' and his speech was cleverly divided between Truth and Falsity. He turned Truth into lies, and negativeness so that in the end he squeezed all hope and strength out of the King so that he despaired. There are many like him in our world; men and women who will call Evil Good, and Good Evil.
Yet there is no way each protagonist has the truth on his or her lips. Some are lying, and lying willfully in order to mislead, and perhaps even divert the course of Justice. Politics IS, for the most part a lying game, where words are used to manipulate without thought of Truth. Indeed one can one wonder if ANY in our world's Governments can claim to conduct themselves and their cause with Integrity - putting Truth and Honesty first in all they say and do, rather than their point of view and ambition. Something of the 'serpent' in all of us I suspect - and without much restraint if we are without the real conviction, planted by the Holy Spirit, of what is Right and Wrong in ourselves; then we shall descend further into deep darkness. We are already a long way into such a 'Darkness', and this can be seen in a description of our Age given in 2.Timothy 3v1-9 found in the New Testament of the Bible where St. Paul tells Timothy - 'In the last days perilous, (dangerous and risky) times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful and unholy........ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth .... men of corrupt mind.....' Where can we look to find men or women of sound mind, and plain and honest speech?
Where are the men and women of INTEGRITY? Principled people whose 'word is their bond', ever living an honest and transparent life in front of their children and peers? Men and women who can be counted on to DO their DUTY no matter how tempted to do otherwise?
JOB in the Bible was a man of integrity! God asked Satan about him in Job 1v8. God said - 'Have you considered my servant JOB, that there is no one like him in the Earth, a perfect and an upright man; one that fears God and keeps clear of evil?' Satan was so annoyed that there was even one man so perfect that he set about his destruction. He did his best to make Job curse God and die. But JOB continued UPRIGHT and kept his INTEGRITY. And God was able once again to draw Satan's attention to JOB in chapter 2v3.
Satan immediately brought a ruinous sickness upon Job, so that he lost his peace, and his popularity. And Not ANY like him, God says. His wife asked him ' Do you still retain your integrity? BUT Job did not depart from his faith in, his honour for God. (chapter 2v9-10) In the loss of family, wealth, and health JOB remained true to himself and God. He did not sin with his lips - did NOT lie or deceive anyone with words of blame or accusation. . But JOB was real. He lived and existed on this planet, and HE managed to keep his moral integrity! Surely one or two of us could make an effort to at least TRY to be like him?
Her Majesty Elisabeth 11 of The United Kingdom, is, I believe, an honest woman; a woman of integrity! YES, I believe it. For 63 years this woman has kept her promise, made at her Coronation to God, and to the the Peoples she was to Rule. She had kept her promise, also to her husband for 68 years. Although she has gone through personal tragedy, family strife, and public antagonism, she has remained TRUE to her Faith in God, and her Role Model to the People. She has unwaveringly done her Duty, uprightly and fearlessly. If we stop and consider we will find others, there is no doubt. But WHO can we look to in Politics, or Religion, or even in every day life? Can you or I trust in our own Honesty and Integrity of Life and living? WHY not. Can we trust our Leaders to be men and women of this ilk? What of our President? Can we be SURE they speak the TRUTH when they address us, and when they deliberate in the Cabinet and Parliament on our behalf?
Can our CHILDREN look up and SEE such adults in front of them with such quality of example and be moved to be like them, to their own improvement? If not we are all sunk as a nation. We are going DOWN rather than UP. Oh, God - help us to enlist your aid to hang on to our INTEGRITY, and be people in whom Truth and Honesty will for ever control and dictate our words and actions in every situation.
Our President is suffering a great deal of criticism in the recent Press and Media. It is even bandied about that he should be 'Impeached', and that he purposely misleads his hearers in his speeches. I think he is a man who has come a long way, and is still trying to go further. But I know also that he will not always write his own Speeches - mistakes can be made. If he can admit mistakes and continue to insist on what he himself believes to be right and true then we might discover a man at least as strong and visionary as his father was. But he will not be liked by all!! President Moi began his Presidency like that, but threats, and crisitism soon made inroads on that initial determined morality, and he flagged along the way. Of course I may be laughed at; I am not a very knowledgeable man when it comes to any Nations politics - BUT I may very well also be RIGHT.
We shall observe the President as days and weeks pass by. It would be wonderful to discover him to be a truly UPRIGHT man. His life confirming his words to be honest and sincere. But if not......well we just need to pray for someone to APPEAR!!
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