Going against the flow

In 21st century culture, it's so easy to go with the flow!  It doesn't take any fortitude, intelligence or wisdom. Any dead fish can float downstream, and one of the easiest things in the world to do is simply follow the majority. Have you ever done it?  I'm sure we all have!

Yet the Bible - God's book of wisdom - holds up some red flags.

Proverbs 14:12 says "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." (esv) The word "seems" is key. There is a way that seems to be the right way. It appears good, innocent, and harmless.  Many people are travelling that way, so what could be possibly be wrong with it?  But this is part of the problem.  It merely seems to be right - just like a plate of fried rice laced with cyanide looks perfectly harmless but is deadly. (And anyone who sounds a warning about the toxic meal may be unpopular and shouted down!). But things aren't always what as seem.

There are multitudes of people today doing what seems to be right.  eg. Cohabiting before marriage, binge drinking, experimenting with drugs, telling lies to save face, or plunging into the homosexual lifestyle - and getting plenty of encouragement from the world! But where does that pathway lead?  To "death" (Prov 14:12).  It is not simply a case of choosing second best, it is to go down a pathway with catastrophic consequences. 

We need to beware of doing what seems to be right.

God loves us so much, and very much wants us to avoid catastrophe, and to have LIFE. So He warns us against doing what seems to be right.  What's more, the Bible is chock full of positive guidance as to how to live. Not just how to avoid trouble, but how to LIVE! Jesus promised He'd come that we "may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10).

Going His way sounds so much better! We avoid shocking consequences and get a higher quality of life. Not an easy life, to be sure, for the life of the disciple includes self denial and cross bearing.  But included in that lifestyle is great joy and peace!

'Thank You, Lord, that You love us so much that You gave us the warnings we need, and the guidance we need, so we can live an abundant life! Please protect us from doing what seems to be right.'

A right view of God

It is so important to have a right view of God!  Why?  If we view God as an angry Father, that will be detrimental to our spiritual health - and our growth! We will cower before Him, rather than relating to Him as a loving Father. We'll see Him as someone hovering over us, ready to strike at any moment. This wrong view of God can be generated by having had a domineering or cruel human father. But we must avoid the mistake of 'projecting' onto God our view of what a father is based on our earthly experience.

On the other hand, if we view God as an eternally tolerant God who doesn't mind sin too much, that will also have a negative effect. It's to lose sight of His command to Christians to "Be holy" just as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). The mindset that "God doesn't mind too much if I sin. After all, we all make mistakes. It's okay!" is dangerous. It's to have a flippant view of sin, whereas the writer of Hebrews exhorts us to "pursue..holiness, without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Holiness IS important to God, and He is not "okay" with our sins and bad habits. He calls us to a higher standard of life than unbelievers.

More examples could be given of erroneous views of God. It is so important that any wrong perceptions we have about God be put aside, and that we embrace Him as He really is - as portrayed in the Scriptures. As we feed on God's Word, and walk with Him daily, we truly get to know Him. And that's a delightful experience!

David Hunt