Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! 23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!
It is indeed a sad commentary on the times in which we live, that blessings are now being pronounced on the heads of those who do evil, and curses are being pronounced on those who do right, a system which has sought to put the concept of just rewards into reverse gear. In the passage above, Isaiah calls for woe to them that call evil good and good evil, who for personal benefit, refuse to call sin by its right name. In the days of the Hebrews, when God gave His laws and statutes to Moses as a sacred treasure to the world, He specifically stated that the practice of justifying sin and condemning righteousness should never be practiced or countenanced, for it would thereby bring the displeasure of God upon His people, and pervert the judgment of leaders in the process. Let's read:
Exodus 23:7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. 8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
Anytime we stand to benefit temporally, from calling evil good, and good evil, the temptation should be resolutely dismissed, even if it be at great cost to us. What is taking place before our eyes is the very same practice that is forbidden in the Bible, for we are now found searching for ways to justify a wrong course of action on many fronts. The smoking of marijuana does real damage to a person's mind, but it is now being "Justified" under the guise of so-called medical benefit. It is worthy of note that the movement to legalize it started out as an effort to help those who are suffering severe pain, but it has now quickly moved to the arena of recreational marijuana, and is now sold in candies, shakes, buns, and even treats for children.
Then there is the ongoing effort to "Justify alternative lifestyles" under the pretext of freedom of expression, and liberty to live as one pleases. Now, while it is true that God gives us the freedom to choose to obey or disobey, yet the matter of making sin a law of the land is an entirely different matter, for our personal or national choices should never be made to interfere with what God has explicitly stated. Then again, we have "Justified" the habit of drinking alcoholic beverages under the pretext of the benefit of antioxidants, a very feeble reason indeed, for if those antioxidants are so much desired, they can be procured in a much purer and potent form, and in many cases, for much less than a bottle of Johnny Walker black would cost.
So what we have taking place today is that blessings are being pronounced on sinful practices, while curses are being called down on the righteous principles and laws God has given for our best good.
As Christians living in the 21st century, where a plethora of evils are scheduled to proliferate across the entire globe, we need to draw our conclusions from the word of God alone, and not be swayed by the philosophies and sophistries of men, for the Bible should have the last word on any practice, habit, concept, or teaching. At times we will find that we will need to go against the grain of conventional wisdom, and we may even suffer ridicule, scorn, and even condemnation at the hands of those who differ from the scriptures, yet by the grace of God we should remain immovable, living only by the word of God, regardless of what scientific research and so-called advancements may say to the contrary.
In other words, if science comes along and proves that liquor, marijuana, and alternative lifestyles are good for us, we should then signally reject such research as being productions concocted in the laboratories of demons, for the word of God condemns all such practices.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which teaches us the sacred truth of just rewards, and it is the will of God that our choices be commensurate with the knowledge that has been revealed in His word, for they are precepts of life which can only bring blessings, when faithfully adhered to. Let's read:
Deuteronomy 11:26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
May God add His blessing to the study and practice of His word. "Good night" and god bless!