My Thoughts Are Higher than Your Thoughts
Our Creator spoke through His prophet Isaiah and said,
"Let the wicked forsake His way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let
him return to the Lord; and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He
will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your
ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so
are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa.
55:7-ff).
God has the right to expect and demand that every human being live according
to His will. This right is His because He is the eternal, sovereign Creator of
us all. He is righteous, holy and powerful. He is also loving, kind and
merciful. He is capable of both wrath and judgment. He is far above and beyond
us. The wisest, most prideful among us are foolish compared to Him. It is a fool
who lives in rebellion against God with each day drawing
nearer to eternity.
Some of us are willing to admit to God's supremacy and live our lives accordingly. Others stubbornly refuse, some even mocking God and His will as God still waits for them to wake up and come to their senses. Why does He wait? Why does He not react forcefully and finally to man's wickedness? His thoughts and ways are too wonderful for me. I probably would have run out of patience long ago. God hasn't... at least not yet.
"Start living in the 21st century!" "Everybody's doing it." These are a couple of the slogans used today by those advocating a rejection of Biblical standards of morality and behavior.
A look at the calendar does inform us that we are living in the 21st century.
But a look at the timeless word of God shows us that His standard is still the
same as it has always been. In Heb. 13:4, the Scriptures exhort us to "Let
marriage be held in honor among all, and let the bed be undefiled; for
fornicators and adulterers God will judge." It does not matter which decade or
century we live in, these things do not change.
Our society is much more permissive concerning moral and behavioral departures from Scripture today. In fact, society more often than not encourages and supports turning away from the Scriptures of God. Though Biblical concepts of moral right and wrong have not vanished, they are certainly diminished. But this is not new to the 20th and 21st centuries. And those who are so determined can choose to live faithfully before God no matter what society may do. The city of Corinth in the first century was rife with sin and our Lord had His faithful people there who had chosen to leave such living behind (1 Cor. 6:9-11). Pleasing God was important to them.
Finally, it is not true that "everybody is doing it." There are many who still honor and respect God and choose to dignify their lives by trying to live according to His word. They possess great faith and courage and do not regret their decision. Yes, with each day we live, the time for this realm grows shorter. The final hour will come. Those who at times had been scorned and ridiculed for their faith will then "shine forth brighter than the sun" and will know that their faith had been worthwhile. So will those who had mocked them. All will know that faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
By Jon W. Quinn
Final Page
From Expository Files 10.5, May 2003
