The word of God, the scriptures, offers to mankind principles to help them make decisions in all areas of human conduct. For many years, atheistic, pagan philosophers have assumed the duty to teach what they feel is right for human conduct. “…every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). These men have failed every time because they have failed to consider what God has said in His words on a given conduct pattern. “…they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?” (Jeremiah 8:9). “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end there-of are the ways of death”(Proverbs 14:12). The Bible offers a clear voice and throws light on how we are to live.
Listen carefully: there can be no morality without God! Why? Because God is the absolute standard of good (Matthew 19:17;1 John 1:5; 1 Samuel 2:2; Psalms 147:17; Isaiah 45:19; Hosea 9:11;Habakkuk 1:13). We are told the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared unto all men, “teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world” (Titus 2:11-12). Peter added: “According as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). Man cannot know right and wrong by reasoning on his own: “O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).
The world about us makes little effort to follow the blueprint of the word of God. People have rejected God’s standard. We are living in a time when little attention is given to the word of God and much attention is given to doing what pleases the desire of men. Many have no regard for the moral teachings of the Bible. There is simply too much of “Hell” in the world today. The sinful world has always condoned evil practices, such as dancing, immodest dress, profanity, gambling, fornication, and the use of alcohol. We must return to the teaching of God’s standard found in His word (Galatians 5:19-21). It must be taught what God has said about the sins of adultery, homosexuality, fornication, immodesty, drinking and any form of loose living. People believe they have the right to act as they wish. Wrong! What we do in word or deed we are to do all in the name and by the authority of Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17). “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16).
The word of God provides us with righteousness (Proverbs 14:34; Psalms 33:12). “Every word of God is pure”(Proverbs 30:5). There is a standard of behavior that God expects men to follow, and it’s in His word, the blueprint of human conduct. All men everywhere need to return to the wholesome purity Jesus stressed in Matthew 5:8. God’s word is man’s light, lamp and path (Psalm 119:105); it is man’s hope against sin (Psalm 119:11); it sanctifies (John 17:17); it cleanses (Ephesians 5:26); it gives us understanding (Psalms 119:130); it has the power to produce godliness (2 Peter 1:3); to produce a new life (James 1:18; Romans 6:17-18).
Notice what Ezekiel told the children of Israel, “And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean” (Ezekiel 44:23). God’s word does that for us today; it is our blueprint for human conduct. The Bible moral code is wonderfully practical; every moral rule that God has given is for our good. The gospel changes the heart or thinking; the mind is renewed (Romans 12:1-2).
Man is incapable of directing his steps in life. The Israelites had attempted to direct their lives; they had forsaken God’s way: the result is captivity! The scriptures must be the foundation of any moral restoration. The Bible alone is our answer! It is past high time that God’s morality found its way back into the lives of men and women.
– Jimmy Pettigrew
