Right Is Right
It is the right hand of God that can set all things right, right a wrong, and righteously uphold those hearts of those who stay true to the Righteous King.
“But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai...So the men went up and spied out Ai...about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them...At this the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the Lord...The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies...Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow"
Joshua 7:1-2, 4-6, 9-13, 20-21
Is it not surprising how quickly giving into small temptation can turn a person in the wrong direction? God just did the miraculous for His people by tumbling down walls with walks and a well timed shout. The one thing God said as part of His directions for how to stay true to the divine was to not take give in to the temptation of taking what was not theirs. Why would the people not listen to God? On a deeper level, what does stealing say about whether we trust God to provide?
God does not want us to remain living with the penalty of sin. Past sin and current sin are like a thorn in our flesh that will not heal until it is removed. Have you ever gone walking and gotten a rock in your shoe? How often do you keep walking beyond when you first discover the annoyance before removing it? Often the duration we continue to deal with it depends on the size or level of frustration the stone causes. Jesus said a little yeast can ruin a batch. Sin is the same way. A little wrong thinking, a little sin, can be a slippery slope that sends us off the narrow path. Why did the people so quickly move from the right way to the wrong way? They didn't remember God or what He had done. How can we set up signs so we remember every day God's grace?
Sin can be the same. We can get to a place where we accept sin and get comfortable giving in the temptation that is the source of our own pain. God has a better plan. He wants us to live free of the life that is enslaved by sin. He wants to free us from oppression. How do we do this? He says confess and consecrate. Tell the truth and turn to the right. Do the next right thing you know to do and keep on the righteous path. Is there anything that has crept into your life that needs consecration? God wants to build us up so we build up our communities. He starts by revealing and inviting us to remove individual actions that hinder His bigger purposes.
“It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame. But now you have rejected and humbled us; you no longer go out with our armies. You made us retreat before the enemy, and our adversaries have plundered us. I live in disgrace all day long, and my face is covered with shame...rescue us because of your unfailing love.”
Psalms 44:3, 5-7, 9-10, 15, 20-21, 26
Long before David wrote this song he had learned the simple truth that he does not win the battles he faced on his own. How could he? Shepherds and the youngest children did not become kings, yet David was king. He knew it was not in his own strength or by his own skill that he had navigated the narrow road to living a life of impact.
David wrote this song during a time of difficulty. He wrote it while he was hurting. He had a stone in his shoe and shame on his face. Likely his stomach was in knots and he didn't see a way out. What truth always helped David step in the right direction? David knew that God is love and he could turn to that live to find what he needed. David says rescue us because you are a Rescuer. David relies on his relationship not on his own right doing to lead him to a place where he could see from the right perspective. Where could you use God's love to help lead you today? Where do you need more wisdom, revelation, or insight to see clearly?
“As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but the heart of the fool to the left. If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest. Whoever digs a pit may fall into it"
Ecclesiastes 10:1-2, 4, 8
Solomon describes the subtlety of how sin can make your life stink. Notice the words he delicately uses. He speaks of three foolish practices. Wisdom calls out three ways we can hurt our relationship with Jesus. He says a little folly, a left leaning heart, and a desire to leave.
A little folly. It can be easier if you take the time to look back to see the root cause of your greatest pain. The murderer does not start with murder. He likely started with conflict and fighting which had likely started with the sin of offense. An adulterer likely did not just hop into bed unfaithfully one day. The little sins of lust had germinated from the secret times of what seemed like harmless conversations or coveting images. Our greatest pains have roots from giving in to a little folly. The small seeds of sin often sprout separation from God and others. Have you allowed any small seeds to be planted? What could you uproot today?
Solomon says a left leaning heart. Proverbs says guard your heart. Our decisions are made in our hearts and we must know that what gets into our heads will get into our hearts. What does a left leaning heart look like? One that desires other things more than desiring God. A left leaning heart allows idols to be elevated to places of authority and earthly desires to be pursued above eternal purposes. The enemy does not need to eliminate us to affect us. Satan just wants to get you to start leaning left a little and before you know it you will have completely left the path of life.
Solomon says the desire to leave. Scripture tells us that God calls us to be faithful and steadfast. The sandals of peace do not produce feet that are quick to stumble. Wisdom tells us to stay calm and trust God. Wisdom tells us that we do not need to react with fight or flight instincts. We need to react with a faithful heart devoted to following God's plan. Do you feel any pressure today? How could you see the next right thing to do by standing firm on your identity as loved child of God?
“When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them...Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? My people are determined to turn from me."
Hosea 11:1-2, 4-5, 7, 12
The bible is a love story. God loves each person that He created and invites them to love Him back. Like many romantic comedies or broadway tragedies, there are often points in the screenplay where something causes the love to go astray. Something causes a tension and love to not triumph as it should.
In Hosea, God says that it was idols and others that caused the people to lose the right road. It is important to consider the influences that we allow into our lives. If you were to look at your friends, which of them are helping draw you closer to God? Which of them are helping you to become a more loving, more righteous, more compassionate person? Do you have any outside influences that are not helping you become who God made you to be? Why?
“Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure...The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.”
1 Timothy 5:8, 15, 21-25
Paul says right is right. He says do not show favoritism because God does not show favoritism. Living a faithful life to God is learning to develop eyes to see how to stay in alignment with what is right and true. We can make many excuses and we can easily give in to the enemy. This is not what God wants for us and Paul says we need to see how sin causes us to move towards Satan. Paul says some sins are obvious and some trail behind. Isn't that the truth? Ironically, isn't it easier to see and call out sin in others? Why is it so hard to see in ourselves?
Paul says purify. It is the same idea that Joshua said when he said consecrate. Freedom comes when we free ourselves by purifying our hearts, minds, and souls from the impure. We are meant to ask God to reveal then we confess and can heal. The question is what do you want? Do you want to live the life that God has for you? Do you want to walk on the right path. Jesus challenged those who would listen by saying that light came into the world, but the world preferred darkness.
There is a reason that temptations are tempting. They speak to a place in our hearts where we have a desire and they satisfy a craving of the flesh. God's wants to help us remove the earthly desires so we can receive the blessings of our divine identity and relationship. He wants us to receive our rightful inheritance as rightly chosen children of God, but we have to want the inheritance more than the impurities. We have to desire the light more than the darkness. Do you want more light? Do you want more intimacy with God? Do you want right relationship where you stand firm on the right path? Start by remembering the goodness of God and listening to His voice. When we look back and remember, we are fueled with gratitude to go forward. Daily take the time to stop and give thanks. Times of remembrance and renewing the covenant will give you all the faith you need to fuel your journey to go the right way.