Isaiah 5:20–Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light

One of the things that I try and instill in my own fight against sin, as well as correcting, disciplining, or encouraging my kids, is honesty about what is right and wrong.  It’s is easy to justify what what we like to do, even if it is wrong before God. We essentially deem what is right and wrong according to our own desires.  Which makes a very dangerous path of having an impure heart that doesn’t see God…(Matthew 5:8)

If you recall the story of Balaam, the prophet who was being bribed to curse the children of Israel (Numbers ch 22).  As the story goes, the prophet was so guided by his pride and lust for money, that he couldn’t see the Lord in his path. So God made his donkey speak to him, to “open his eyes” that he was going against God!

But Balaam being a lot like us, was tempted with his weakness, to stray away in disobedience to clear commandments from God.  Yet sinning is not the greater issue here, though we may make it out to be.  It is what we do once we have sinned, is where real problems or real solutions can occur…

Balaam in his sin was not honest with his desire to compromise.  He kept inquiring to go with people God told him not to.  Balaam was lying to himself, saying that he is only going in order to tell them that he won’t do what they want!  Balaam is literally going against what God called him to do, while saying he is going to do what is right! (Numbers 22:18-21)

The prophet thinks he is doing right while going the wrong way.  Instead of being honest with his desires, that his lust for money is wrong, and should be wrestled with honestly.  But like Balaam, God knows our weaknesses, but He leaves it up to us to be honest, confess, and repent, worshiping Christ as right in our conviction of sin. Seeing our actions how Jesus sees them, affirms that we have a pure heart and clear conscience to what is truly right and wrong.

In His Love, LD