Shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his Maker? Job 4:17
One of the top stories in the news some years ago was about a woman who was challenging the Canadian law that forbade anyone from assisting someone to commit suicide. This woman had a debilitating and eventually fatal disease, and she wanted to have someone help her when she took her own life. Of course, this was not legal in Canada at that time (Sadly, this has changed). But this woman believed she knew better than the government that created the law. She also thought she knew better than God, Who forbids the taking of a life, even one’s own. This woman’s case was typical of much of society these days, as people challenge the laws of the land and the principles of the Word of God.
For example, the Bible condemns homosexuality. But this practice and lifestyle has been promoted and praised until anyone who dares to speak out against it is considered deeply evil. The taking of the lives of the unborn has become so accepted that our country’s highest honour was bestowed on the operator and promoter of abortion clinics. The Word of God that addresses these evils is said to be old fashioned and prejudiced. In effect, these people are proclaiming that they are more just than God. Their motives and actions are considered to be higher than those of their Maker. Where do Christians fit into this mess?
First of all, we need to acknowledge that the Word of God is always true and right. What God condemns we should also condemn. What God praises we should also praise. Because God cannot and will not change, His principles and truths will not evolve over time, regardless of the attitudes of those around us. His truth two thousand years ago will not be traded off for something new today.
We also need to understand that man is sinful, and that includes ourselves. We are not only capable of mistakes, but we are programmed by our sinful nature to make mistakes. We are not only capable of going against God’s Word, but we are programmed by our sinful nature to oppose God and His truth. But as Christians, we have been given a capability to obey God and accept His truth.
No, you and I are not more just or pure than our Lord. The attitudes of the world should not persuade us otherwise. We ought to obey God rather than men. -Jim MacIntosh