Truth at All Costs

There is a significant difference between a preacher, the ambassador of God, and an ambassador whom worldly governments appoint. The former sets out to please God, while the latter is appointed to please the people.

An American statesman, scientist, and writer, Benjamin Franklin (1706-90), was a tactless boy in his childhood, yet in later years, he rose to the coveted post of ambassadorship, being appointed ambassador of America to France. His secret to success lay in his own words:

“I will speak ill of no man and speak all the good I know of everybody.”

Man indeed loves nothing more than being praised and hates nothing more than being criticized.

However, a man of principle upholds the truth, no matter what price has to be paid. He can become an object of scorn or be treated as an outcast. However, an unscrupulous person draws the crowd. The reason is quite simple. The former abides by the truth at all costs. He does not mould himself to the people’s wishes, while, to the latter, it is expediency alone that counts. He aims to earn the goodwill of the people, so he moulds himself into what they want him to be.

To pass on to others, something one does not believe in; to present falsehood as truth to consolidate one’s hold on people amounts to hypocrisy. One so inclined is very likely to achieve success in this world but will be cast aside in the next world, where truth and untruth will become as clearly separated from each other as day is from night.

There is a significant difference between a preacher, the ambassador of God, and an ambassador whom worldly governments appoint. The former sets out to please God, while the latter is appointed to please the people. The latter sets his eyes on expediency, on worldly gain, while the former set his eyes on truth, however dear it might cost him.