“Ignorant – Confused – Denial”
There’s a lot of confusion and concern about the direction our culture is taking. What was once considered good is now considered evil, and what was evil is now deemed as good. Are people ignorant, confused, or in denial because they prefer to reject truth and righteousness to satisfy their own desires? One may wonder, what’s the benchmark? What’s the dividing line between right and wrong?
If you were to ask me, I’d point you to God’s Word. The Bible is God’s Word and explains the differences between right and wrong. It teaches there is a difference between good and evil. Isaiah gives a solemn warning, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (5:20).
When people do not carefully observe the distinction between right and wrong or good and evil, destruction will follow. It’s easy for a person to say, “No one can decide for anyone else what is really right or wrong.” They may think getting drunk, using unprescribed drugs, extramarital sex, and a number of other things isn’t really wrong, or that money doesn’t control them. Plus, all of these things lead to lying. This does not lead to a happy life.
But if and when we make excuses for our actions, in reality we are breaking down the distinction between right and wrong. If we do not take God’s Word, the Bible as our standard, soon our moral choices will appear fuzzy. Being influenced by another that doing a wrong is okay or won’t hurt you creates confusion leading to the denial of truth. By whose standards are you living – your own? Others? Or God’s?
God’s Word teaches you how to live a life that’s pleasing to Him. Living that kind of life keeps us honest, trustworthy, healthy, and reliable. To deny Jesus as truth is at the very least, compromising his teachings.
Here’s some good scriptures for you to look up, read and think about: John 14:6, 17:17, 8:32. Second Corinthians 5:10, Hebrews 9:27, and Romans 1:16-32.
Pastor Carnes
