THERE was once a country that was notorious for evil. Its rate of corruption and immorality was so high that God made up His mind to destroy it. However, a man who was dear to God's heart, decided to intercede on behalf of the people. He approached God and made Him promise to spare the country if he found some upright men. God accepted. The man searched all over that country for a handful of just men. At the end, he was disappointed. He could not find even one upright man, except his cousin, Lot.The story of Sodom and Gomorrah and Abraham is one we know too well. We also know what became of Sodom and Gomorrah as a result of their evil ways. Now, think' if God decides to visit Nigeria today as He did Sodom and Gomorrah, would He find just men' Do we still have men and women of integrity who have not compromised their consciences for material gains'Recent developments in our nation's lower House of Assembly has once more made it imperative for us to examine ourselves as a people and the values we hold sacred. We ask: Do we still have men of integrity in Nigeria'Generally speaking, integrity stands for consistency of actions, values, methods, measures, principles, expectations, and outcomes. Integrity is synonymous with positivity. It is the opposite of hypocrisy. One who has integrity will always stand up for what is right, no matter the consequences. According to Wikipedia, the word 'integrity' stems from the Latin adjective 'integer' (whole, complete). In this context, integrity is the inner sense of 'wholeness', deriving from qualities such as honesty and consistency of character.So, I ask again' do we still have men of integrity' Do we still have people who can resist the lure of massive financial inducement to doctor truth' Do we still have upright men who will refuse to compromise the wellbeing of their fellow men at the altar of corruption and self-aggrandisement'Jesus Christ is a perfect example of a man of integrity. During his lifetime, he never compromised his belief; neither did he water down issues he considered injurious to the spiritual and moral well being of his followers. He knew what his mission on earth was and was not prepared to settle for anything less. As a result of his refusal to play to the gallery, many fell out with him, especially Jewish leaders who were used to having things their way. Christians also are supposed to live their lives based on personal convictions and understanding of God's purposes. Knowing that God expects very high moral standards from all His children, a true Christian, as a follower of Christ, must strive to imbibe high moral ethics in his daily affairsJust as Christ suffered much persecution for his convictions, we too, as Christians, must be ready to endure pains and humiliation from those who may consider our forthrightness out of fashion. When you refuse to 'play ball' in doctoring that important report in your place of work, when you reject the offer of a bribe to indulge in unethical practices, when you refuse to turn a blind eye to injustice, be sure that you will be challenged by those who feel threatened by your actions. But you must not compromise. This is where self-discipline comes to play.The Bible highlights several examples of men and women we can look up to as role models. We recall the life of Joseph who refused to defile himself by sleeping with his master's wife. Daniel was bold enough not to compromise his faith when faced with the prospect of death. We also have women, like Ruth, Esther and Deborah who epitomise integrity.Today, our country is in dire need of men and women who will rise above board and stand for all that is good. From the leadership to the followership, there is urgent need for moral rejuvenation.Rise and be counted. My prayer is that the good Lord will empower us with the spirit of boldness to say no to all forms of inducement and temptations that have been drawing back our nation's wheel of progress, so that we can remain firm in the midst of all odds. Amen.Very Rev. Msgr. Gabriel Osu is the Director, Social Communications, Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.
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