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In this series of articles, I would like for us to think about
answering life's difficult questions. These questions range from
the creation of the universe to life after death to methods of raising
our children.
We must realize that God's children are elevated to think and reason
on a higher moral plain than people who are living in sin. People
living in sin are living in darkness; thus, their thinking is distorted.
Their thinking is distorted because they have rejected God as the
authority for their life.
Paul said: "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord,
that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk,
in the futility of their minds" (Eph. 4:17). The expression
"in the futility of their minds" means that their thinking
is futile - it is vain and does not bring about moral conclusions.
Have you wondered why worldly men believe in such things as killing
unborn children (abortion) and killing the sick and elderly (euthanasia)?
Have you wondered why worldly men believe that the universe is a
result of random events and not the result of a glorious and loving
Creator? It is because their thinking is futile. They have drawn
vain conclusions because they do not appeal to God as their authority
for answering these questions.
Paul continues his epistle regarding the futile thinking of unbelievers
saying: "having their understanding darkened, being alienated
from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them,
because of the hardening of their heart; who, being past feeling,
have given themselves over to licentiousness, to work all uncleanness
with greediness" (Eph. 4:18-19).
Here, Paul gives us the reason that unbelievers' thinking is futile.
They have hardened their heart against God by giving themselves
over to licentiousness to work all uncleanness with greediness.
And since their heart is hard, ignorance is in them resulting in
alienation from the life (i.e., eternal life) of God. The result
of this is that unbelievers' understanding is darkened - they live
in darkness and therefore their understanding is darkened.
To properly answer questions concerning morality we must first
be a faithful child of God. If we are not God's children, our thinking
is futile because our understanding is darkened.
Are you a child of God? If not, you will find some of your views
on moral issues to be in opposition to God's word. You have not
accepted God and His word as the authority for your life; therefore,
your conclusions are not based upon the ultimate authority of the
universe.
If you are a child of God, you have taken the first step necessary
for having true understanding enlightened by God's word. Jesus said:
If you abide in My word, you are called my disciples indeed. And
you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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