INTEGRITY IN THE LAND
INTRODUCTION
Integrity in the land needs strengthening in many nations that have allowed the seed of corruption to take root rather than the Unadulterated (Pure) Word of God. It is unfortunate that it seems as if those who shout the loudest get more attention that those whose integrity outlaw such blatant activity.
Integrity is defined as moral soundness, incorruptness, uprightness, honesty, and uncompromising adherence to godly principles. Whenever there is a withdrawal from integrity in the land; the seed of corruption can arise and infiltrate rather than continuation as “A Nation under God.”
Integrity in the Land
Attempt to Dwarf
Integrity in the land is lacking in that many are becoming as the Psalmist declared: There is no faithfulness (uprightness) in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness (destruction); their throat is an open sepulcher (tomb); they flatter with their tongue (Psalm 5:9).
It was noted that if citizens neglect their duty and place unprincipled men in office, the government will soon be corrupted; laws will be made, not for the public good so much as for selfish purposes; corrupt or incompetent men will be appointed to execute the Laws; the public revenues will be squandered on unworthy men; and the rights of the citizen will be violated or disregarded (Noah Webster).
Thank God for those who seek to maintain integrity in the land, by their actions, and will not allow the minority to use boisterous words and actions to outweigh such. An unknown author wrote: Do not leave her to be ruled by a few who make it their business and profit to rule. She is yours.
Biblical Value of Major
Importance
It was noted that every thinking man realizes that the teachings of the Bible are interwoven with our whole civic and social life that it would be literally impossible for us to figure what life would be if those teachings were removed. We would lose almost all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals; all the standards towards which we strive to raise ourselves (Theodore Roosevelt).
If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity (Daniel Webster).
Voices of the past stating the importance of integrity in the land being maintained; with God’s Word being the principle ruling authority. Any other recourse could bring withdrawal from God’s umbrella of protection and provision.
Morality of a Nation
It was noted that our ancestors established their system of government on morality and religious sentiment. Moral habits, they believed, cannot safely be trusted on any other foundation than religious principle, nor any government be secure which is not supported by moral habits. If truth is not diffused (promulgated), error will be; If the power of the Gospel is not felt throughout the length and breadth of the land, anarchy and misrule, degradation and misery, corruption and darkness will reign without mitigation or end (Daniel Webster).
Integrity in the Land includes moral soundness, uprightness, and adherence to moral principles established in God’s Word. When a nation becomes misguided by deceit, ungodly maneuvers to captivate the tone of the land, versus godly instruction and integrity, what was noted will become the norm rather than integrity in the land.
Nations in Disarray
Nations that are in disarray due to failure of integrity in the land being a norm; will witness disunity on display through enhanced media coverage of events thousands of miles away. We witness in-house fighting, in the political realm that does not reflect unity rather discord. An appeal towards unity, rather than political discord was noted: On June 18, 1787, the Constitutional Convention was deadlocked and in bitter controversy.
Benjamin Franklin rose and made the following plea to the delegates: I have lived a long time and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth; that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall on the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? We have been assured in the Sacred Writings that “except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it.”
I firmly believe this; I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing in our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed in business. Voices of the past often reveal an appeal for integrity in the land rather than discord.
Integrity Sought
Integrity in the land was sought after, through advice given to Moses, by the priest of Midian, Moses‘ father-in-law, for the people of Israel, saying: You shall provide out of all the people (Israel) able men, such as fear God, men of truth (integrity), hating covetousness, and place them to be rulers (Exodus 18:21).
In a similar plea, the Prophet Jeremiah was instructed by God: Run you to and from through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek the broad (open) places thereof, if you can find a man, if there be any that executes judgment (justice), that seeks the truth (Jeremiah 5:1).
God was asking Jeremiah to find a man (besides Jeremiah); to seek out integrity in the land, a place dominated by gross sin. Have we not evolved towards a similar plea when integrity in the land is forsaken for personal gain?
Youth of the Land
The Prophet Elijah after having witnessed God’s miraculous declaring of Himself to the heathen; was threatened by Jezebel, the king’s wife, and run for his life to Horeb the mount of God. When questioned by God, what do you here, Elijah, he answered: The children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and slain your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only am left; and they seek my life to take it away (1 Kings 19:10).
Elijah was in despair over the lack of integrity in the land and voiced that complaint to God. God’s answer: Yet, I have left (reserved) me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal (a false god) (1 Kings 19:18).
One may become downhearted as Elijah, with the hour seemingly bleak with darkness covering the land, but there is a heavenly Father who sees it all, is not limited way as we may perceive it. God sent Elijah forth to anoint a King; Elijah was a prophet of integrity having served God faithfully, and continued to be a chosen vessel unto Him.
Integrity Rewarded
The Psalmist David revealed the nature of integrity: Who shall ascend in the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; that has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully (Psalm 24:3-4). Scripture reveals: The just man walks in integrity; his children are blessed after him (Proverbs 20:7). Integrity in the land is extremely important; especially for our youth, for they are the future of a nation.
We live in a time when parenting is of upmost importance; with so many other influences being presented, that may lead one astray from the merits of integrity. Scripture reveals: Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6). It was noted that train up a child refers to the total process of molding a child’s life. When he is old stresses the principle that education in the home forms a person through their lifetime.
Integrity will Stand
Integrity in the land may be found in one person, taking a stand. Scripture reveals such a instance in the life of the Daniel, an Israelite who had been brought in captivity to Babylonian, a heathen nation. Scripture reveals: They sought to find occasion (some charge) against Daniel concerning the kingdom, but they found none forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him (Daniel 6:4).
Likewise such was found in the life of Job. Scripture reveals: Job was perfect (blameless) and upright and one that feared (reverenced) God and shunned evil (Job 1:1). After being severely tested, Job’s wife asked: Do you still retain your integrity? Curse God and die (Job 2:9). Despite being severely tested; Job retained his integrity and was blessed by God with a double portion of all that he had lost.
Salvation of the Soul
Apostle Paul wrote: Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord (the Lord Jesus Christ) shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed: And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher (Romans 10:13-14).
A man of God was asked: If given an hour to explain the Gospel to someone, how would he do so? He said he would spend the first fifty minutes on the bad news of judgment and then the last ten minutes on the good news of salvation, because without the context of judgment one would not appreciate or even understand salvation.
The Unadulterated (Pure) Word of God needs to be preached to its fullness, towards salvation of the soul, and when genuine salvation is received; integrity in the land will be greatly increased. If you have yet to receive the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior, I would encourage you to do so.
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