Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could see things as God sees them? If we could see as God sees, we would know that most fears never materialize. Most of the things we spend most of our time worrying over will never happen and, thus, we waste energy and weaken ourselves.
Surely this is why Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Each day has enough trouble of its own. If we could see as God sees, we’d realize that there’s no problem that we’ll face which is without resolution. In our gloomier moments of illness, financial stress, or personal problems, we ponder and study over questions which seem to have no answers. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” James 1:2-4 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” If we could see as God sees, we would understand that no trial comes without an attached blessing. Things can't be seen in advance and in our anguish we tend to doubt that anything good can come from a heartache.
If we could see as God sees things, we would know that nothing is more important than having a Savior. The ups and downs of life all lead to the end of life, and at the end lies the Christian’s moment of joyous triumph in Jesus. “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).
We read in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek." What did Paul mean by the statement "I am not ashamed"? Paul, like all of us, had certainly done things in the past of which he was ashamed. However, he now lived in such a way that he would not be ashamed to face Jesus.
Paul had found the good news of salvation and told it openly--he wasn't ashamed. He wasn't embarrassed to speak of the Christ or to suffer for the faith that he held. He kept on repeating proudly, "Jesus is the Christ!"
Paul wasn't disappointed with Christ and His blessings. He trusted in Christ and Christ never forsook him. Paul just kept on proclaiming the good news of the gospel. He was never ashamed to proclaim that message. Paul was never embarrassed to speak the name of Jesus to those who did not know Him. Paul was never disappointed with the one who was His Savior and friend.
Are we ever ashamed of the story of Jesus? Do we hold back our confession of Him before men? Will Christ be ashamed of us on that judgment day? Jesus said, "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38).
1 Peter 4:16 says, "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter."
Let us unashamedly serve our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ.
In a period of loose and sagging morals, Satan provides many rationalizations for improper behavior. Those who would live faithful Christian lives must not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. Paul said, “...Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Wrong is always wrong despite our efforts to excuse our actions. Wrong is wrong even if we don’t get caught. Let us remember, “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).
Wrong is wrong even if we do it for a good cause. An honorable purpose does not justify a dishonorable deed. The end never justifies the means. According to 1 John 3:4 and 5:17, all sin is transgression of God’s law. Wrong is wrong even if others are doing worse things. It will be of little comfort on the day of judgment if we should be lost knowing that others did things worse than our own sins.
Wrong is wrong even if it doesn’t bother our conscience. The conscience can be trained or educated to accept wrong-doing, and even an honest mistake done in good conscience is sinful in the sight of God. Remember, Paul persecuted the early Christians in all good conscience according to Acts 23:1 and 26:9.
Wrong is wrong even if it is commonly considered acceptable. God said in Exodus 23:2, “You shall not follow a crowd to do evil…” Proverbs 4:14-15 says, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn away from it and pass on.” The apostle Paul encourages all Christians to “Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). Remember, there is never a right way to do a wrong!
