“An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.” Proverbs 29:27
Devotional Thought For The Day
This is a true observation, but one that we would prefer not to be true in a pluralistic and free society. We have studiously avoided this conclusion when it comes to a variety of moral, philosophical, religious, and spiritual issues. If we are to have freedom of thought, speech, religion, and to a certain degree behavior, then the unjust and the righteous, the straight and the wicked, will have to coexist and find ways to “just get along.” This is the principle struggle in American culture today – how can we just get along when both sides find the other to be “an abomination”? And this is the circumstance in regard to abortion and homosexuality, and perhaps in regard to socio-economic philosophy. Sadly, most people don’t care that much about their religion and other theological and personal moral issues to find all contradictions of God’s Word to be abominable and wretched.
Of course, both sides find it reprehensible and unthinkable that others should find them to be “an abomination.” We can understand disagreement, and we can even understand finding certain positions, beliefs, and behaviors to be abominable and reprehensible, but we struggle with finding a person to be “an abomination” – unless he is in a very small minority which virtually everyone abhors and detests. And we surely find it utterly incomprehensible that anyone would think of us as “an abomination.” And we don’t want it to be so, so we are forced to take more mediating positions that are as inoffensive to others as possible. So it is that perhaps the majority of people in our society would find the author of this proverb to be “an abomination,” a trouble maker whose position makes it impossible to have a free and pluralistic society without open civil war. Of course that would make God – the only True and Living God, Who has given us His Word in Holy Scripture, and Who is the ultimate Author of this proverb – to be an abomination. Or better yet, it would make those ignorant people who still take the Bible seriously and conform their understanding of God to accord with the Bible, to be the abominations. So then, the only people we refuse to tolerate are the intolerant – which is self-contradicting, because it makes us intolerant.
What a conundrum! Because of the disparity between good and evil, right and wrong, justice and injustice, straightness and wickedness, human beings are inextricably forced to live in conflict. The only question is which side of the conflict we are going to be on, what we will find abominable – good or evil, God or the devil. That we would even consider this, that we would ponder how to avoid such conflict, that we yearn for a way in which to extricate ourselves from such conflict and the condemnation of others and just get along, is evidence of the deep-seated infection of sin which afflicts us all. That God is not thus “conflicted,” but remains intolerant of all evil and is fully good, reveals His holiness. That He remains merciful, forgiving, patient, forbearing, and has provided us with redemption for all our sin, and gently and eagerly woos us to repentance and renewal of life, decency, goodness, and love, is remarkable – almost unbelievable. But this also is His Word, a Word of truth and reality – as is evident now in the Gospel and will be clearly seen by all on the Last Day.
We rightly sorrow over this conundrum and the difficult circumstances that it imposes upon us in this earthly life. It is not God’s fault but ours – His righteousness and goodness precedes our sin. He is the ground of all reality and of the existence of every living thing – His goodness deserves continued existence, not sin and evil. So our sorrow should be repentant sorrow, in which we can also find the joy of His gracious mercy, forgiveness, and salvation, and restoration of His image within us, and the hope of eternal glory in the coming home of righteousness. We also sorrow that evil is unalterably opposed to this regenerative work of God, His insistence that good shall prevail – because it means that we who believe in Jesus are “an abomination” to the majority of mankind [those who choose the broad way that leads to destruction]. We also abhor the reality that this conflict may lead to violent persecution and even martyrdom against us, and that we cannot indulge our sinful nature by fighting evil with evil. But the Almighty God is on our side, and has promised to watch over us and keep us, and in the end we shall prevail along with Him. And it truly is an honor to suffer for good; it confirms good in us and cements our bonds to the Lord Jesus. So let us remain with the Lord, trusting in Him, and fulfilling His good and gracious will for our lives.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to more fully grasp and understand the nature of the conflict that evil has created in the world. Give us greater courage and fortitude in taking Your side in this conflict. Preserve us from weak compromise and from exercising evil in the conflict, for this is succumbing to evil. Enable us to think clearly, to press the cause of good forcefully, and to patiently suffer the insults and hatred of the enemy. Preserve us in repentance and faith and give us steadfast endurance in living to Your glory. Amen.