The following article that appeared
in the Centurion Law Enforcement Ministry Blog written by Police Officer and
Chaplain Michael “MC” Williams. I am always
in awe of Mr. Williams writing and I have asked and received permission to use
his article.
Judges 17:6, 21:25 “In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.”
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seemeth right unto a
man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
Those of us who serve in law enforcement live in a world that is all about “doing the right thing.” But just what is the “right thing” and by whose/what standard? Especially in a time in our nation and the world when Isaiah 5:20 (“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil…”) is being played out before us, understanding and “doing the right thing” has never been more important. That said, this is not a new concept. As we see in our signature verses above, God reveals to us that even His chosen people repeatedly turned against His way (did their “own thing”) — with dire but appropriate consequences. Accordingly, let’s dig into what God has for us on this incredibly vital subject.
In the Book of Judges, we find the nation of Israel in a very dark place. Despite the fact that they had God Himself as their King, they rejected His lordship, leadership and direction. Does that not sound familiar? Today as then, our nation has turned its back on God and His way (THE Way — John 14:6). Just as Israel did 2600 years ago, American culture today says that “the right thing” can’t be God’s way and that we must embrace those who decide for themselves what is “right in their own eyes,” including but by no means limited to sex outside of biblical marriage (one man, one woman), alternative lifestyles, addictions run amok, rejection of biblical manhood and womanhood, and lawlessness in general.
Folks, let me be crystal clear in relaying God’s message: The book of Judges is absolutely and overwhelmingly relevant for us today (personally, professionally and nationally). To understand its application for us today, we need to get a little insight on the relationship between God and the nation Israel at that time. God chose His people to be a light in a dark world. To shine so that as they lived and obeyed the Lord they would show just who God was to a world that was mired in idolatry and spiritual darkness! The Israelites were to be the way the whole world would come know God and worship Him! God promised to bless them so greatly, IF THEY OBEYED HIM, that all the world would wonder who the great and benevolent God of the Jews was.
But God also promised the people of Israel that if they turned away from Him (disobedience) and set a bad example for who He was to the world, He would punish them (read Deuteronomy 30). Not because God was mean or spiteful, but because of His righteous judgement. God reveals to us in His Word that every evil act (evil being His standard) has a consequence. He punished the Israelites as a way of waking them up so they would turn from their evil ways and turn back to Him. And in turning back to Him the Israelites would again show the world who the real God is.
Sadly, then as today, God’s people turned away from Him and “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” (repeated seven times over 300 years in the book of Judges). As a consequence, God punished them for their disobedience. Finally, when things finally got bad enough, they cried out to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness. Sound like many of us today? And why did the nation of Israel sink into this downward spiral of disobedience and judgement? It was a matter of their eyes! The Hebrew language is very literal. It use lots of concrete words to define abstract ideas. The word “eye” in the context of Judges means “sight or perspective or arrogance”. During the time of Judges the people did what they THOUGHT was right… not what WAS right.
Folks, I believe that the United States has been the most blessed nation on earth — a nation that has been truly blessed by God with His intent that we be a light to the world for His glory. Sadly, we have fallen far short of that and, frankly, that He has so far refrained from imparting His just wrath on us is nothing short of a miracle! “But wait! There’s more!” In his commentary, the late Chuck Smith (founder of the Calvary Chapel movement), wrote the following concerning these passages in Judges (over 20 years ago, mind you): “Look at the consequences in our society. We cannot build prisons fast enough to accommodate all those who are being sentenced for their criminal activity. More children are being raised in a home with step parents than at any time in history. Thousands of children feel unwanted, unloved, and in the way, more than ever before. It is becoming a rare thing for children to be raised in a home with both of their parents. One in every five teenagers is infected with a sexually transmitted disease. More babies are being born to unwed mothers than at any time ever. Abortions are killing off the next generation. You have to wonder just how long God will allow these things to continue before He steps in and brings His judgment upon America. ‘America, America, God shed His grace on thee,’ but He is about to pour His wrath on thee! God declared, ‘Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.’ (Proverbs 14:34)”
Amen! Chuck went on to say,
“Are you doing what is right in your own eyes, or are you seeking to do what is right in God’s eyes? The Bible tells us that it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the judgment (Hebrews 9:27). Yes, there is life after death, the Bible speaks much about it. It tells us that one day every man, small and great will stand before God to be judged. What will be the standards for judgment in that day? They will be the standards that God has established, which means that many of you will be in big trouble. The nation of Israel was in a state of moral free fall. There was a lot of confusion for everyone was doing what was right in their own eyes. They had rejected God as their king. Likewise, I see America today in that same moral free fall. We also have rejected God from reigning over us, and people are doing what is right in their own sight.”
As Solomon (sadly, a man who also often did things his own way instead of God’s) rightly said in Proverbs 14:12, “there is a path that seems right unto men, but the end of the path is death.” Are you sure you are on the right path today? Are you doing things the right (God’s) way? Are you prepared to stand before God and give an account to Him for how you have spent your life?
Here is where the gospel of Jesus Christ comes in, He says, “Turn your life over to Me, and I will make those changes for you. I will set you free from the power of sin, and give you the ability to walk the path of life. Follow Me, for ‘I am the way, the truth and the life and no man can come to the Father but by Me.'” (John 14:6) Brethren, the cure for what ails us individually, as a profession and as a nation (world) is found through a life-saving/life-changing front sight focus on Christ alone. Hebrews 12:2 puts it wonderfully: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Fixing (or “fixin” if you’re from the south — lol), having that front sight focus on Christ Jesus, is THE way to FIX our eye problem and do the right thing God’s way!
And how do we do this? By bowing our knees to the authority and kingship of Jesus in our lives. By living for Him and not for ourselves! By accepting His free gift of salvation and becoming a disciple of His and His alone! By repenting of our sin both individually and collectively and boldly living “all in” for Him under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Clearly, the ability to do the right thing is ultimately found in Christ alone as revealed in His Word, the BIble. Do you know Him? Are you sure? If so, are you following Him wholeheartedly? If not, keep reading!