Honesty
It is even more important to be honest with yourself than with others, because if you aren't honest with yourself, you can't be honest with them ... or with God.
Diogenes carried a lantern (the Light) and searched the whole world for an honest man, in an ancient Greek tale. Has much changed since then? In America, psychologists tell us, people lie in one-quarter of their social interactions, daily. They lie to themselves and they lie to others. Isn't there a better Way to live?
People in California were studied and found to lie dozens of times every day. If you are honest with yourself, and just a bit aware, you know that you are lied to more than you might care to think about. People who are not honest with themselves have little reason to be honest with you. Or do you believe all of the politicians, talking heads in the news, celebrities, educators, government authorities and spokespersons, or mainstream media?
Can you not tell that they are in fact consummate liars, and that when they present a sincere and honest and truthful appearance, it is nothing more than that? There are lies and deceit in their hearts, in their minds, on their lips, in their agenda, and in their actions. The ability to conceal or cover up their lies, does not make people innocent or honest. Neither does the often claimed "there is no evidence" of wrongdoing, when they make sure there is no evidence because they suppress it or destroy it. Those who are committed to deceiving you, who make it routine, are usually smart enough to make sure there is no evidence to be found. They have honed lies, dishonesty, and deceit to a fine art.
"Hateful to me, as are the gates of hell,
Is he who, hiding one thing in his heart,
Utters another." — Homer
Honesty is not something you should ever take as a given. People are fundamentally dishonest with themselves. "Denial" is epidemic in society. Since people are not even honest with themselves, what would make you think they are somehow honest with each other, or you?
Then there are the sociopaths, the demons, the soulless ones, walking around in human bodies. Countless millions of them. Who tend to find positions of influence based upon their ability to lie, to pretend, to deceive, and to exploit. Consider the universal corruption, abuse, deception, oppression, exploitation, cunning, thievery, unfairness, untruth, and injustice in society. They are the People of the Lie, and Satan's own. They have no conscience, no inner Truth, Love, Light, or honesty. And, you may interact with them in daily life, whether you know it or not.
What is honesty? People move their lips and speak, though they have absolutely no idea what the truth is. They voice opinions; they repeat the popular programming, propaganda, or indoctrination; they speak out of ignorance; they freely express ego and negative emotions. Can this be called honesty or truth? Honesty means finding a place within you which resonates with the truth. Honesty requires conscience.
Honesty, like love (and all of the inner qualities of a true spiritual being), may be a genuine motivation in one's choices and actions. But, this is true only for a small minority of people. Most people do not have this heartfelt quality within them.
Evil people, who refuse to see their own evilness, project dishonesty and evil upon the innocent
Evil, in every form, has mastered the perverse art of denying its evil acts and accusing those who can see its evil of doing what it has done. Your leaders do it all the time, attacking anyone who opposes them, and lyingly accusing the opposition of doing what they, themselves, have done. Since they cannot change the truth, in reality, they attack so viciously as to make people think the truth must be the opposite of what it really is. They make you doubt yourselves — and the truth — rather than them. This is how Satan has worked since the beginning, the Serpent in the garden.
Good people tend to project honesty and love onto others — they assume that others have this quality just because they do. This is a very big mistake. And, it is the basis upon which all con men (and women) operate.
People you trust may lie to you, take advantage of your misplaced trust, exploit you emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and financially, and bring you greater suffering. Preachers lie to you; experts and authorities lie to you; leaders lie to you; economists lie to you; teachers lie to you; bankers lie to you; business people lie to you; car salesmen lie to you; politicians lie to you; your parents lie to you; children lie; spouses lie; friends lie; the media lie to you; scientists lie to you; and on and on. If you imagine that any of these categories of people is really honest, you are just programmed by your society.
Nothing is as it appears to be in this world. Unless you are aware, and do not accept everyone and everything at face value — on appearances — you may be trapped and exploited by those who are not what they appear to be. Hypocrisy is used to trap people in the Church, while repelling people from God. In one example, an archbishop of the Catholic Church resigned after he was accused of having sex with a number of women — even telling them to go on birth control pills so that he would not get them pregnant. Other priests in his church were having sex with young boys and girls; hundreds of children had been abused by more than 20 priests just in that area. Every attempt at telling the archbishop of the abuse that was occurring was met with denial. Why? Because he preferred to hide behind an imaginary cloak of "infallibility" and "ultimate truth." He was basically as guilty as the other priests in exploiting his authority, aiding the abuse, ruining lives, and destroying faith in God. Do not have misguided trust in those who have no true inner spiritual being, whose lives are a perverse lie.
And, yes, demons can stand at a pulpit, and preach about God and Jesus, and wave a Bible in their hand
It happens every day.
This world has little tolerance for the truth. It cherishes and cultivates illusions, ego, pride, ambition, selfishness, materialism, hedonism, hate, conflict, exploitation, and the destruction of true inner spiritual values. Honesty makes people angry. People hate to have their illusions pierced, their "cover" blown, their evil exposed, their true natures revealed, their pettiness and interest in only themselves revealed.
Do not let your own trust, honesty, or love be a means of making you unaware or ignorant of the truth — and more readily exploited by others. You must be more wise than that. The common lie that everyone is good, and "it's all good," is being exposed, daily.
Honesty demands the truth.
Beyond everything else, honesty requires a realization of spiritual truth. God is good. Jesus is good. And God knows you; you cannot hide the truth from God. Jesus is not here to judge you, but to save you. Honestly look in your heart for the Higher Good. Let Jesus be in your heart.
