What are the three “false reasonings” that give us the power to lie to ourselves (and others)?
Our false reasoning: We invent reasons to justify the decisions that leave us the freedom to live as we wish, such as:
False Reasoning 1
- There is nothing after Death. We are very limited in the way we look at things. It is not a hypothesis that we can confirm or deny. Are you willing to bet your eternity on the idea there is nothing after death? Even though there are many testimonials of imminent death that people have shared that show there seems to be something after our life here.
History shows us that Egyptians (who we admire so much) were preoccupied with life after death. That is why they became experts in mummification.
But whatever. We need a revelation from Someone who knows. And God who lives in Eternity has revealed this: “And it has been appointed to man to die once, and after that comes the judgment” (Hebrews 9.27).
Just be certain that we will be judged for what we have done (or omitted to do). We all cry out for justice (for others), don’t we? And it will start with YOU.
False Reasoning 2
2) Convinced that God does not exist
The Bible reveals this: “And before Him no creature is hidden, but all are open and laid bare (naked) to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. » (Hebrews 4.13) What will that change in our behavior to know that all we ever did, and our darkest secrets will be brought to light….for everyone to see?
False Reasoning 3
3) If God exists, I will negotiate with Him at the last minute. This is another “warp” in our thinking. We are lost because we don’t realize that we have a decision to make. The negotiation has already happened! We need to grab the legal « loophole » that Jesus negotiated for us. This is a Presidential pardon that Jesus obtained for us by taking our death sentence upon himself. Of course, we need to admit that we are « lost » without Him. Because in spite of repeated warnings we have not taken seriously the death sentence registered against us by the Divine Court and is waiting to be applied.
The death sentence is not applied right away
During our lifetime we are on probation where God leaves us the choice to accept his Presidential Grace or not. And he does not apply (at least not right away) all the consequences of our misbehavior.
But it is also the reason (since God does not apply the sentence of capital punishment in our lives immediately after the first sin), that we imagine we can continue to push further in the wrong direction.
King Solomon said it a long time ago: “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily the heart of the sons of men is (more) fully set to do evil. (Or « Because God does not punish sinners instantly, people feel it is safe to do wrong » -LB) (Ecclesiastes 8.11)
It is true that a sinner can continue to do the same wrong 100 times and continue to live. But one day God will call him on it and his right to live will be withdrawn.
The desire to “stay lost” can start young and last a lifetime
Right now we talk about young people who make a lot of noise at 2 in the morning with their motorcycles with no mufflers. On top of that if someone has an accident, and if a police car happens to be in the area, they are able to provoke a riot by saying it is the fault of the police. And social media and politicians find a handy pretext to talk about the problem as if they have the solution.
But all are at fault…
Even when we are older, we love to propagate “fake news” as if it is true. Young people prevent workers from sleeping in our suburbs. But there are also racist policemen, crooked politicians, and media that love to publicly lynch businessmen or politicians without checking the facts. And older people tend to stay silent for fear of retaliation. According to Jesus in Matthieu 7. 1-2, we will be judged according to the criteria we apply to others.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged and the measure you give will be the measure you get ».
But we do persist in our denial of spiritual reality because we think the Law has prepared no serious punishment for the acts (or words) we commit.
Even if the Law of man is ineffective for this but the higher law of cause and effect will always apply (one day).
And since the application of these laws is deferred, we continue to transgress them until “death do us part”.
One day we will receive the salary we deserve
God who does not want to lose us, has warned us for thousands of years. “For the wages of sin is death.” (Romains 6.23) But if we prefer staying “lost” be certain of this: Once you leave this room (like they would say in a TV police series), you have nothing left to negotiate. You have rejected the only offer made. Because there is only one Man God will accept as Mediator for all men, that is Jesus His Son. And He has negotiated for us a Presidential Grace.
1 Timothy 2.5: “For there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all. »
Once you are dead, the probation period is up (your life where you have the choice to take God up on his offer or not). But you can no longer negotiate with God. Sorry!
Summary
· We find ourselves lost in our false reasoning. Each one follows his own road.
· Since we have rejected God’s way, we are easily misled by other thought leaders. We think we are on the right track because everybody thinks that way.
· The majority tries to make us believe that « All is well » when we well know that something is wrong. There is a kind of schizophrenia to “play-act” which can push to depression or worse.
· We have confidence in our emotions or reasoning. But if we are on the wrong track that can push into even deeper darkness.
The only solution is God’s Revelation
· The only solution is to accept God’s revelation which reveals by his Word that we will be judged for what we did (or did not do) after death. And the only legal “loophole” is the Presidential Grace offered to us in Jesus. But God leaves us free to accept or not. Of course, that means we plead guilty.
Here are 3 false reasonings of our time:
1. Believing there is nothing after death
2. Being certain that God does not exist
3. And if He exists that we have the possibility to negotiate something with him at the last minute.
* We are allowed to live a period of probation during our lifetime and God leaves us the choice to follow him or not. He does not apply (at least not immediately) the consequences of our bad behavior.
God has warned us that the wage of sin is Death. But if we persist in our rebellion, we need to realize that there is nothing to negotiate. Because there is only one-Man God will accept as a mediator for all men, Jesus his son.
Let’s pray
Father in heaven, I recognize that I can’t make it out by myself. I’m lost in the false reasonings of the world around me and that makes me miserable.
It is not my fault that I got lost but it is if I want to stay lost. I plead guilty for my rebellion. Thank you Jesus that you obtained for me my salvation and you offer this grace I don’t deserve. Please forgive me. Amen.
See the first part Don’t follow me. I’m lost too!