If there is anything, in my mind, that has been lost in our society today it is the concept of obedience. I know that human nature is no different today than it was in Solomon’s time (Ecclesiastes 1:9.) People are going to do whatever they rationalize as right today just like they have always done. Proof of that is in Judges 21:25, 32:1 and Proverbs 12:15, 21:2. I know that some things just don’t change. However, it seems that most everyone has unlimited access to varying views of information and the freedom to promote those wavering views, be they right or wrong.

It is easy to forget that what has endured through the millennium was truth because God wanted it to survive from the beginning. With the population explosion and accessibility to the Internet so many philosophies exist – especially in societies that have refused to accept truth. Today one must be able to filter out what is pure speculation and imagination compared to what is enduring truth because it has stood the test of time.

Today, I would like you to think about three concepts that I have stood the test of time. Hopefully they can form a foundation for keeping things in perspective. They should help you sort through what is truth verses what is someone’s rationalization or justification of behavior to justify their actions. These quotes range in age from 2000 to 3200 years ago and have endured the test of time and have been documented 1000 times the numbers of copies of the Iliad and Odyssey.

1. The first is Isaiah’s quote that I have used in these daily readings multiple times. I repeat it because it is the WHAT in which you will need to focus on. 1 Samuel 15:22 – 23: “Does theLord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice,
       and to heed is better than the fat of rams.  For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
       and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. . .” What we are supposed to do is just follow God’s stress relievers (10 commandments) and Jesus’ two commands (Matthew 22:37. Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27).
2. The second is Jesus’ quote in John 14:6 which helps us understand WHY we should focus on truth rather than people’s rationalization: “Jesus answered, ‘Iam the way and the truth and the No one comes to the Father except through me.’” You and everyone at one point or another has to deal with the fact that Jesus IS who he said he was – not just a good and loving prophet like some would purport. If he was NOT the Son of God then he was a liar and should be ignored. However, the world cannot ignore the man who changed history and that all our calendars are built around. We either accept or reject his ways.
3. The third is HOW we choose to react to the truth. Are we obedient or will we approach life our own way and rationalize our behaviors? John 14:23 – 24 “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obeymy teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”  As you can see this takes the concepts of both the Old and New Testament and combines them into our direction – that of loving one another. It’s what we are to be known for.

Love Dad