Right In Your Own Eyes

It’s amazing and disturbing to witness the mass deception that circulates through society. Like many of you, I think ‘how can they actually believe what they are saying, is this some kind of sick joke?’. I have had conversations and brief debates with folks that have a very disturbing belief system. The brevity of my debates are directly proportional to the basis of belief. If the basis of belief is found in their own experience and they are not pliable or ‘open’, the discussion is over as it’s an exercise in futility….. therein lies a subtle lesson to those keyboard warriors and social media right-fighters…. have the wisdom to know when to let it go.

The first question one might ask me is, “what makes their point of view disturbing as opposed to your own?”. I will be the first to say I am not ‘right’ unless the foundation of my belief is based in God’s foundational truth. The difference between what is ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ is dependent on individual ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ believing. Before your mind starts going to the current crazy stuff going on in our nation and world, I would caution you to be introspective because we ALL fall short of this principle that goes to the very foundation of our being.

Most American’s have heard the story of Adam and Eve being commanded by God not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; this was the only ‘rule’ given in the garden. Subsequently, Satan twisted God’s words and deceived them into disobedience. Once they took the fruit, they immediately covered their nakedness and hid from God. Prior to their disobedience, they were not ashamed of their nakedness and had no knowledge of good and evil; eating of the fruit, changed everything…. they now had their interpretation of the knowledge of good and evil…. this is what separated them from God, although they were disobedient, they now hid their nakedness and were ashamed. They began to form their own ideas of what was good and what was evil; no longer having total dependence and trust in God….. their sin caused separation and they no longer had the mind of God. From that point forward, mankind struggled with right and wrong, thus, God provided more specific rules and commandments to try and protect His creation from themselves and evil influence….. hang with me, just building a foundation for the point…..

For those politically correct people reading this, ‘man’ refers to mankind (male and female). In Proverbs 14:12 it states, ‘There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death’. This begs the question ‘what would cause a man to misinterpret what is right and it ultimately end in death?’. The answer is the foundation of man’s belief is not based in God’s word, it’s based in carnality. For those of you who actually read the Bible, there are really good examples of this throughout, especially in the book of Judges.

Let’s fast-forward to today….

Most people today do not base their decisions, behavior and lifestyle on a Biblical foundation. Their interpretation of what is right or wrong is dependent on their preferences, not moral conviction. Our moral foundation is based on influence’s in our lives that have formed our belief system. Influence in our lives are family, friends, emotional experiences, propaganda, education, etc., which mostly twist our beliefs into wrong thinking and ungodly character. This is the root-cause of the problems we have in society today and is the reason you can look at someone and think, ‘what the heck happened to them, do they really believe that?’ Some would call this a lack of common sense and, in some cases, they may be right, however, you must look at the basis of belief to determine cause.

What is ‘right’ today has been severely perverted to the point of calling good evil and evil good. The sad part is many, if not most, are being sucked right into the desensitization of perversion and it is changing the foundational beliefs of those who call themselves Christians. I know of some that have accepted sexual perversion because they have a family member immersed in that lifestyle. Instead of fighting for the very soul of their loved one, they decide to embrace it and call it ‘normal’. Acceptance of sin is not love, it’s actually the opposite…. we must hate the sin but love the sinner…. this means you do not stray from the truth but you stand by the truth in love. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

Compromise always leads to conflict and chaos. Being ‘right’ in your own eyes is not the same as being right in God’s eyes unless it aligns with His word.

Romans 1:18-32

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

This is the world in which we live today folks. The cycle of sin has not changed throughout time. It begins with rebellion (right in your own eyes), which leads to retribution (consequences), which hopefully leads to repentance, which leads to restoration and then God gives you rest.

I encourage anyone who made it through this to examine yourself to see if your ‘rightness’ is based in His eyes or your eyes. When you find your rebellion, repent and allow Him to restore you. In the days we find ourselves in, we are all tired, burnt-out and need His rest.

In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus says, ”Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.