Woe Unto Them That Call Evil Good

2012-06-24

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)

We live in a day where this is a regular event. Fornication, homosexuality, abortion, violence, and the like are evils that the world approves. Likewise, the supremacy of Christ over the false gods and agreeing with the Bible that Jesus is the only path to salvation is a good that is declared evil.

The world has everything backwards. Becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ requires us to turn the world’s way upside down. What the world says is evil is often good in reality, and vice versa. See some of these examples:

The world’s way is the way of self-centeredness. The Christian way is God-centeredness, and sacrificing yourself for the good of others. “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

The world’s way is to amass as much money, wealth, and “stuff” as we possibly can, because this life is what is most important. The Christian way is to be content with the things we have, and seek the Kingdom of God. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

The world’s way to greatness is to be a leader. The Christian way is to be a servant. “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11).

Remember that Isaiah was written to God’s people in the Old Testament, so we easily could become guilty of the above, and probably are in some way. It takes a change of mind to think like our Lord Jesus Christ. Woe to him that does not have that mind!