A man’s got his word. If that’s no good, what is?”
–Ernest Haycox (Trail Town)
“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”
–Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)
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I was reading an article from “Infinity” written by Bakajied Nongrum that discussed the plight of Diogenes. (“Infinity” is published Ravi Zacharias). Diogenes went about the streets of Athens holding a lamp looking for a man who was honest. He failed to find one before his lamps went out. Maybe the fault lay in Diogenes; maybe he didn’t have enough oil in the lamp, or most likely he couldn’t find one honest man. If he tried to do the same thing in Washington, D.C., what would he find? Most likely that it was full of shysters, bureaucrats, and liars who are filled with hatred, seeking only to fill their own coffers.
Where is the honest man? Maybe Diogenes just shined his lamp in the wrong places, especially going out at night. Night is where evil lurks. Secrets and lies are told in the dark corners between men. Hidden deals are made, money passed under the table. Nothing only is there not an honest man, but where is justice?
If you are a follower of Miles Forrest (by the way, buy my book, Return From Tincup) you understand that he often argues with himself about justice, about doing what is right. Ah, but then, what is justice? C.S. Lewis says this, “Justice means much more than the sort of thing that goes on in the courts of law. It is the old name for everything we should now call ‘fairness’; it includes honesty, give and take, truthfulness, keeping promises, and all that.” Life should be about justice; life should be lived in honesty.
One thing we know for certain is that Diogenes was using the wrong lamp. He was seeking a honest man using the standards produced by society. Those standards are relative and arbitrary depending on the agenda of the one using them. They can change on a whim. The only real way to seek justice or to find an honest person is by using the true Lamp of the Word of God. We don’t have to stumble along seeking in this dark world. We have the Word of God to light our footsteps and shine upon our way.
Therefore, if someone says this is right and it is shown by God’s Word to be wrong, shun their saying. Or something that is clamored to be wrong, and God’s Word says it is right continue following that path. Take heed in the words of the prophet Micah:
“He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness]?” (Micah 6:8 (AMP)