Sermon for Sunday March 1st, 2009

Calling Evil Good by Ajai Prakash

Isaiah 5:18-5:24

Opening illustration: Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman told of a distinguished minister, Dr. Howard, from Australia who preached very strongly on the subject of SIN. After the service, one of the church deacons came to counsel with him in the study. "Dr. Howard," he said, "we don’t want you to talk as openly as you do about man’s guilt and corruption, because if our boys and girls hear you discussing that subject they will more easily become sinners. Call it a mistake if you will, but do not speak so plainly about sin. "The minister took down a small bottle and showing it to the deacon said, "You see that label? It says strychnine - and underneath in bold, red letters the word ’Poison!’ Do you know, man, what you are asking me to do? You are suggesting that I change the label. Suppose I do, and paste over it the words, ’Essence of Peppermint’; don’t you see what might happen? Someone would use it; not knowing the danger involved, and would certainly die. So it is, too, with the matter of sin. The milder you make your label; the more dangerous you make your poison!"

Let us look into God’s Word and see what the Bible calls good and evil and whether they are one of the same thing.

Introduction: Those who set their hearts upon the world will justly be disappointed. Here is woe to those who dote upon the pleasures and the delights of sense. The use of music is lawful; but when it draws away the heart from God, then it becomes a sin to us. God’s judgments have seized them, but they will not disturb themselves in their pleasures. The judgments are declared. Let a man be ever so high, death will bring him low; ever so mean and death will bring him lower. The fruit of these judgments shall be that God will be glorified as a God of power. Also, as a God that is holy; he shall be owned and declared to be so, in the righteous punishment of proud men. Those are in a woeful condition who set up sin, and who exert themselves to gratify their base lusts. They are daring in sin, and walk after their own lusts; it is in scorn that they call God the Holy One of Israel. They confound and overthrow distinctions between good and evil. They prefer their own reasoning to Divine revelations; their own devices to the counsels and commands of God. They deem it prudent and politic to continue profitable sins, and to neglect self-denying duties. Also, how light so ever men make of drunkenness; it is a sin which lays open to the wrath and curse of God. Their judges perverted justice. Every sin needs some other to conceal it. And the consequences of sin we all have to bear some time or the other. But we must understand that it has been forgiven through Christ and we don’t have to continue bringing before God the animal sacrifices for our atonement.

Let us define SIN?

The word used to denote the willful breaking of God’s law.
1. Sin is "any want of conformity unto or transgression of the law of God" (1 John 3:4; Rom. 4:15), in the inward state and habit of the soul, as well as in the outward conduct of the life, whether by omission or commission (Romans 6:12-17; 7:5-24).
2. It is "not a mere violation of the law of our constitution, nor of the system of things, but an offense against a personal lawgiver and moral governor who vindicates his law with penalties. The soul that sins is always conscious that his sin is…
• intrinsically vile and polluting, and…
• that it justly deserves punishment, and calls down the righteous wrath of God.
3. Hence sin carries with it two inalienable characters,
• ill-desert, guilt (reatus); and
• pollution (macula)."

Illustration: What is sin [a comparison of man’s and God’s perspective]?
Man calls it an accident, God calls it abomination.
Man calls it a defect, God calls it a disease.
Man calls it an error, God calls it an enmity.
Man calls it a liberty, God calls it lawlessness.
Man calls it a trifle, God calls it a tragedy.
Man calls it a mistake, God calls it madness.
Man calls it a weakness, God calls it willfulness.

What happens when evil is called good? [Steps to calling evil good]

1. Sin is used as a CRUTCH & YOKE [vs. 18 – 19]:

“An evil inclination is at first like a fine hair-string, but the finishing like a cart-rope.” The antithesis is between the slender cords of sophistry, like the spider’s web (Isa_59:5; Job_8:14), with which one sin draws on another, until they at last bind themselves with great guilt as with a cart-rope. They strain every nerve in sin. The general idea in this verse and the next, is, doubtless, that of plunging deeper and deeper into sin. The word “sin” here, has been sometimes supposed to mean “the punishment” for sin. Iniquity and sin are mentioned here as carrying with them their own punishment.

Is sin dead? No, not by a long shot. Yet as Good Friday and Easter approach, some pastors and theologians worry: How can Christians celebrate Jesus’ atonement for their sins and the promise of eternal life in his resurrection if they don’t recognize themselves as sinners?
Why people in the west are being attracted to Buddhism? Because it does not recognize the idea behind sin holding instead a "Cause-Effect Theory", known as Karma, or action. In general, Buddhism illustrates intentions as the cause of Karma, either good, bad, or neutral. Furthermore, most thoughts in any being’s mind can be negative.

Some people drag their sins around with them. Some do so arrogantly, but for others, their sins have become a burden that wears them out. Are you dragging around a cartload of sins that you refuse to give up? Before you find yourself worn out and useless, turn to the ONE who promises to take away your yoke of sin and replace it with a purpose for living that is a joy to fulfill. Jesus promises that joy of healing from sin and a joy that is always full. [Matthew 11: 28 – 30]

In v. 19 God threatened purpose to punish. This is the language of all sinners. They plunge deep into sin; they mock at the threatenings of God; they defy him to do his utmost; they do not believe his declarations. It is difficult to conceive more dreadful and high-handed iniquity than this.

Illustration: Imagine all the obstacles a person might have to overcome if he were to walk from New York City to San Francisco. One man who accomplished this rare achievement mentioned a rather surprising difficulty when asked to tell of his biggest hurdle. He said that the toughest part of the trip wasn’t traversing the steep slopes of the mountains or crossing hot, dry, barren stretches of desert. Instead, he said, "The thing that came the closest to defeating me was the sand in my shoes."

2. Sin becomes a WOE [vs. 20 – 23]:

v. 20 To them - That take away the difference between good and evil; that justify wicked men and things, and condemn piety, or righteous persons. This is the fourth class of sins denounced. The sin which is reprobated here is that of “perverting and confounding” things, especially the distinctions of morality and religion. They prefer erroneous and fake doctrines to the true; they prefer an evil to an upright course of conduct.

v. 21 This is the fifth crime specified. It refers to those who are inflated with a false opinion of their own knowledge, and who are, therefore, self-confident and vain. This is expressly forbidden; Pro_3:7 : ‘Be not wise in your own eyes;’ compare Pro_26:12.

v. 22 This is the sixth specification of crime. He had already denounced the intemperate in Isa_5:11. But probably this was a prevailing sin. Perhaps there was no evidence of reform; and it was needful to “repeat” the admonition, in order that people might be brought to regard it.

v. 23 That is, they do not decide the cause in favor of those who have just claims, but are determined by a bribe; see the note at Isa_1:23. It is remarkable, that this is introduced in immediate connection with their being mighty to mingle strong drink. One effect of intemperance is to make a man ready to be “bribed.” Its effect is seen as clearly in courts of justice, and in the decisions of such courts, as any where. A man that is intemperate, or that indulges in strong drink, is not qualified to be a judge.

When people do not carefully observe the distinction between good and evil, destruction soon follows. It is easy for people to say, “No one can decide for anyone else what is really right or wrong.” They may think that getting drunk can’t hurt them, extramarital sex isn’t really wrong, or money doesn’t control them. But when we make excuses for our actions, be break down the distinction between right and wrong. If we do not take God’s Word as our standard, soon all moral choices will appear fuzzy. Without God, we are headed for a breakdown and much suffering.

Illustration (1): There’s an old story about a man who tried to save the city of Sodom from destruction by warning the citizens. But the people ignored him. One day someone asked, "Why bother everyone? You can’t change them." "Maybe I can’t," the man replied, "but I still shout and scream to prevent them from changing me!

Lot was a righteous man (2 Peter 2:7) who should have done some screaming. The record of his life reminds us of how our sense of moral indignation can be dulled by the world. Lot chose to dwell in cities where there was great wickedness (Genesis 13:12,13). When Sodom was invaded by hostile kings, he was captured. Even after Abraham rescued Lot, he was still drawn back to that wicked city (Genesis 19:1). And the last chapter of his story is an account of heartache and shame (Genesis 19). What a contrast -- this nephew and his uncle! Abraham trusted God, prayed for the righteous, and lived a moral life. But Lot was "oppressed with the filthy conduct of the wicked" (2 Peter 2:7). Although the sin of his day bothered him, he apparently said little about it.

Illustration (2): Pro-life pastor Walter B. Hoye faces up to two years in prison and $4,000 in fines at sentencing today for offering sidewalk counseling outside a California abortion clinic.

3. Sin draws CONSEQUENCES [v. 24]:

The tongues, as it were of fire, Act_2:3, which appeared at the descent of the Holy Spirit, on the apostles, give the same idea; that is, of flames shooting diversely into pyramidal forms, or points, like tongues. It may be farther observed that the prophet in this place has given the metaphor its full force, in applying it to the action of fire in eating up and devouring whatever comes in its way, like a ravenous animal whose tongue is principally employed in taking in his food or prey.

Let not any expect to live easily who live wickedly. Sin weakens the strength, the root of a people; it defaces the beauty, the blossoms of a people. When God’s word is despised, and his law cast away, what can men expect but that God should utterly abandon them? When God comes forth in wrath, the hills tremble, fear seizes even great men. When God designs the ruin of a provoking people, he can find instruments to be employed in it, as he sent for the Chaldeans, and afterwards the Romans, to destroy the Jews. Those who would not hear the voice of God speaking by his prophets, shall hear the voice of their enemies roaring against them. Let the distressed look which way they will, all appears dismal. If God frowns upon us, how can any creature smile? Let us diligently seek the well-grounded assurance, that when all earthly helps and comforts shall fail, God himself will be the strength of our hearts, and our portion for ever.

The people suffered because they rejected God’s basic laws for daily moral living. It is sad to see so many people today searching for meaning in life while rejecting God’s Word. We can avoid the error of Israel and Judah by making reading the Bible a top / high priority in our lives.

Illustration: Radio personality Paul Harvey tells the story of how an Eskimo kills a wolf. The account is grisly, yet it offers fresh insight into the consuming, self-destructive nature of sin. "First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. Then he adds another layer of blood, and another, until the blade is completely concealed by frozen blood. "Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground with the blade up. When a wolf follows his sensitive nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He begins to lick faster, more and more vigorously, lapping the blade until the keen edge is bare. Feverishly now, harder and harder the wolf licks the blade in the arctic night.

So great becomes his craving for blood that the wolf does not notice the razor-sharp sting of the naked blade on his own tongue, nor does he recognize the instant at which his insatiable thirst is being satisfied by his OWN warm blood. His carnivorous appetite just craves more - until the dawn finds him dead in the snow!"

It is a fearful thing that people can be "consumed by their own lusts." Only God’s grace keeps us from the wolf’s fate.

Conclusion: We will surely be forgiven our sins no matter what their magnitude, that’s what Jesus did at the cross for all of us and the Bible continually reiterates this but the consequences of our sins we will have to bear. My challenge and encouragement to you all will be to stay in the WORD, continue to PRAY to draw strength so that you don’t fall into temptations and surround yourselves with strong men and women of God who will help you stay focused, pray for you and encourage you to live in accordance with God’s ways. We live in the last days just like Noah. A time when people have started to call evil good and good evil, they have fallen away from God’s ways and seek wickedness in their hearts. What will you say about good and evil? The choice is yours!