Originally published Friday, 09 November 2018.
"In all the years I've worked with people, I've yet to meet someone whose life was all messed up because he or she kept God's commands." (Joe Stowell) This quote resonated with me because of its truthfulness. Many people want lives that reap the result of God's commands, but they don't want to believe or follow God's commandments.
So we are in a free for all - everyone doing what they want and hoping that they come out fine. Sometimes people look for the easy way out and rationalize, that if it's not explicitly stated in the Bible, then it can't be done.
Psalm 1 covers many situations relevant to our world - let's take a look:
1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
So the real question is - who are the wicked? The simple answer, those who don't follow God.
2 But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.
Your beliefs determine your actions; no point in having beliefs if you do nothing with them. If you love God and believe what He says, you will search the Bible for truths for living.
3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.
I like to garden - a well-watered tree or plant thrives. It has deep roots and is stable so it takes a lot for this tree to tumble. When you are like a well-watered plant in God's word, the troubles of life draw you closer to your Source; you handle problems differently; you have a confidence that is not braggadocio, but is peaceful and sure; others want what you have.
4 Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Because this person is not content, they jump on every bandwagon or every fad that may lead to happiness; they may buy more things, try illegal substances, drink more, indulge in fleshy pastimes and reap the consequences of all of these actions. They may have an over-inflated sense of self and believe that they are entitled to a good life. For them, life is about the next experience, the next high.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
Their actions have doomed them to the place of the wicked.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
The Lord preserves but the wicked destroy themselves.
Use the rubric of God's word to live right; no one has ever been sorry who has done so.
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