“In the beginning, GOD …”
In our last study, we noted that the beginning of all things started with a RIGHTeous GOD. Like Hebrew reads from RIGHT to left, our life story would do well to be read from the perspective of “RIGHT FIRST.” In everything we do, it’s RIGHT to put GOD in the beginning—to consider His Ways, His Word, His Will … FIRST. First in the moment, first in the day, first in our thoughts.
Over one hundred years ago, Charles M. Sheldon, through the characters in his fictional story, “In His Steps,” posed a similar challenge. How would our story be told if, before making any decisions, we first asked, “What would Jesus do?” The particular social reforms that Sheldon sought to promote in his early 20th-century novel may since have morphed to our current times, but the suggestion to always ask “WWJD?” is still powerful and RIGHT.
Modern technology and the ongoing “enlightenment” of Man’s thinking can never—and WILL NEVER—make the Word of God obsolete nor its counsel irrelevant. It speaks and should guide us in every decision we make—and it WILL, if we seek God FIRST.
Anything worth doing is worth starting RIGHT.
In Creation—in the Garden of Eden before the Fall—Man lived in full obedience to God alone, with no alternatives or choices to make. Only when rebellion against God’s holiness was introduced by the serpent to Eve was there ever a sense of right versus wrong—and ever since Eden, our lives have been a long string of choices. One decision after another. Each time we choose to do what is RIGHT, we are responding to that higher power—the HOLINESS of God. When we train up our children RIGHT, our fundamental motivation is not really God’s love, or even His righteousness—but His HOLINESS.
We have heard it said that we should determine to “start each day with what is RIGHT, not just what is acceptable.” Why? Because God is HOLY, and doing what is RIGHT points us toward God’s holiness. We cannot always predict the exact direction our lives will eventually take, but if at every critical life decision we determine to take the advice of the voice on our heart’s GPS who says “Keep RIGHT at the fork”—we will finish our journey with far less regret and much more satisfaction. “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!” (Psalm 119:5 KJV) Martin Luther King, Jr. wisely said, “The time is always right to do RIGHT.”
“Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God, and his RIGHTeousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33 KJV)
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his RIGHT hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the FIRST and the last.” (Revelation 1:17 KJV)
Prayer: Dear Jesus, I surrender the directionality of my will and my life to You. Let me walk so close to You that my “ears shall (continually) hear a word behind (me), saying, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it,’ when (I) turn to the right hand, and when (I) turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21 KJV) I will praise You for ever. Amen.
(Part 2 of 2)
