Confusing Evil with Good
Many of our news outlets continue to carry stories of immorality, greed, falsehood and evil. It's as if our culture is beginning to condone these activities. I even hear commentators say that America's culture is changing and shifting to a more "liberal" culture. When I hear this the Holy Spirit rises up in me and sets a standard against what they are saying. The Bible says Proverbs 8:13 "the fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I (God) hate."
Humanity has had a problem with confusing evil with good. The prophet Isaiah says "woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness to light, and light for darkness who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." Isaiah 5:20-21 "woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight." Evil is made to look good, thus there are our temptations.
Modern social righteousness is very different from the righteousness of the Bible. It has been said "a wrong deed is right if the majority of people declare it not to be wrong." By this principle we can see our standards shifted from year to year according to the popular vote. How about the Supreme Court of the law. When a majority of the Court declares something legal and right but when it is totally wrong in the eyes of God.
Many of the sins that were so hideous 30-50 years ago and are openly accepted today, even in the church sin abounds. The institution of marriage is attacked and same sex marriage condoned. Jesus does not want us to be like the Laodicean church. Do not be lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16). "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil." God has not changed. (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8). Jesus is still the same. His word is still the same. God still calls immorality a sin and the Bible says that God is going to judge it.
What about honesty and integrity that used to be a "hallmark" of our society. Remember when the words "your word is your bond" was spoken? Contracts were a handshake and a person stood by their word. But today "lying" is par for the course; for example, politicians. There is a spirit of "lying" in Washington. How do we get our values so mixed up? How do we fall into this trap of Satan? One reason is that people look for shortcuts to happiness, or their lust for immediate pleasure causes them to think evil is good. We must be careful not to get our values mixed up and call evil good and good evil. For example, when the church allowed the government to take prayer out of schools. Some will say that morals are relative. The moral code is changed to fit behavior, instead of changing our behavior to fit our moral code. Many of our kids are being told there is "no truth." They are not on solid ground of the word of God.
Another way evil is called good is for the conscience to be prevented. But right is right and wrong is wrong even if everybody is wrong. God does not change the moral law of His word to suit our behavior. We must submit to God's law and word and our behavior must conform to Him. Romans 12:2 "and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Then you will know good from evil.
We must not be self centered and fulfill our desires with something that we know is wrong or evil. We must crucify "self" and put down evil desires. Seek His Kingdom first. Matthew 6:33
We are not to rationalize circumstances that are evil and wrong, that they are good and okay. "Well everyone is doing it, it must be okay!" Politicians do this all the time. Jesus warns us against this in the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector. Luke 18:9-14
The Pharisee rationalized his righteous by his works. The tax collector knew he was a sinner and asked for the mercy of God. He was justified by God's grace. We as believers must be able to discern between evil and good. Hebrews 5:14. You see evil is present to disguise itself as good. Evil is present to deceive and control us if we are not walking in the Spirit with spiritual discernment.
I encourage you today to keep your spiritual eyes open to the evil in the world today, and not be deceived. Ephesians 5:6-7. Stay in the word of God and the truth will make you free. John 8:32
As a believer you need to exercise your authority to vote and stand for righteousness. Don't fall in the trap saying "evil is good or okay and good is evil." Get involved and do your part for the Kingdom of God. Never say "oh my vote won't count or make a difference anyway." Yes it does.
Amen.
Humanity has had a problem with confusing evil with good. The prophet Isaiah says "woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness to light, and light for darkness who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter." Isaiah 5:20-21 "woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight." Evil is made to look good, thus there are our temptations.
Modern social righteousness is very different from the righteousness of the Bible. It has been said "a wrong deed is right if the majority of people declare it not to be wrong." By this principle we can see our standards shifted from year to year according to the popular vote. How about the Supreme Court of the law. When a majority of the Court declares something legal and right but when it is totally wrong in the eyes of God.
Many of the sins that were so hideous 30-50 years ago and are openly accepted today, even in the church sin abounds. The institution of marriage is attacked and same sex marriage condoned. Jesus does not want us to be like the Laodicean church. Do not be lukewarm (Revelation 3:15-16). "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil." God has not changed. (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8). Jesus is still the same. His word is still the same. God still calls immorality a sin and the Bible says that God is going to judge it.
What about honesty and integrity that used to be a "hallmark" of our society. Remember when the words "your word is your bond" was spoken? Contracts were a handshake and a person stood by their word. But today "lying" is par for the course; for example, politicians. There is a spirit of "lying" in Washington. How do we get our values so mixed up? How do we fall into this trap of Satan? One reason is that people look for shortcuts to happiness, or their lust for immediate pleasure causes them to think evil is good. We must be careful not to get our values mixed up and call evil good and good evil. For example, when the church allowed the government to take prayer out of schools. Some will say that morals are relative. The moral code is changed to fit behavior, instead of changing our behavior to fit our moral code. Many of our kids are being told there is "no truth." They are not on solid ground of the word of God.
Another way evil is called good is for the conscience to be prevented. But right is right and wrong is wrong even if everybody is wrong. God does not change the moral law of His word to suit our behavior. We must submit to God's law and word and our behavior must conform to Him. Romans 12:2 "and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Then you will know good from evil.
We must not be self centered and fulfill our desires with something that we know is wrong or evil. We must crucify "self" and put down evil desires. Seek His Kingdom first. Matthew 6:33
We are not to rationalize circumstances that are evil and wrong, that they are good and okay. "Well everyone is doing it, it must be okay!" Politicians do this all the time. Jesus warns us against this in the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector. Luke 18:9-14
The Pharisee rationalized his righteous by his works. The tax collector knew he was a sinner and asked for the mercy of God. He was justified by God's grace. We as believers must be able to discern between evil and good. Hebrews 5:14. You see evil is present to disguise itself as good. Evil is present to deceive and control us if we are not walking in the Spirit with spiritual discernment.
I encourage you today to keep your spiritual eyes open to the evil in the world today, and not be deceived. Ephesians 5:6-7. Stay in the word of God and the truth will make you free. John 8:32
As a believer you need to exercise your authority to vote and stand for righteousness. Don't fall in the trap saying "evil is good or okay and good is evil." Get involved and do your part for the Kingdom of God. Never say "oh my vote won't count or make a difference anyway." Yes it does.
Amen.