UPSIDE DOWN

Isa. 5:20-21

 

"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. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.”

 

Good and evil, darkness and light, how's a fella to know?  If you take a look at our culture and listen to our media it all looks like a gray blur.  But consider the Decalogue - the Ten Commandments.  These simple statements are God’s clearest and simplest declaration of His intent for His people. The commandments are God’s instructions for living a blessed life. When they are rejected, ignored, or violated the result is a life that is joyless, empty, and unproductive; in Isaiah's words, a life full of "woe."  The consequence of living by God's principles is blessing.  The result of not doing so is woe.  . . . simple!

 

Let me paraphrase God's life principles:

·         Make sure God has first place in your heart. - Worship the true and living God

·         Don’t worship your own works or things of this world.

·         Don’t misuse the Lord’s name. -

·         Remember the Sabbath day. - Make it special.

·         Honor your father and mother.

·         Don’t murder.

·         Don’t commit adultery. – Be faithful.

·         Don’t steal. – Be honest.

·         Don’t lie about other people. – Be truthful.

·         Don’t covet. – Be satisfied.

 

Friends, these principles weren't devised by a committee or a government agency.  They don't represent a consensus of international delegate's best ideas on morality and ethics.  Right doesn't equal popular.  Good doesn't flow from power.  You know as well as I that it is God alone who determines right and wrong, good and evil, what will produce blessing, and what will not.  So keep it simple.  Live YOUR life right-side up.  Believe God.  Follow Christ.  Be blessed.  Reject and ignore those whose cleverness and wisdom is only a product of their own imaginations.  Live YOUR life right-side up.

 

--- Pastor Keith Andrews