The key to a successful life is seeing things the way that God sees them and then following his way. Why is it important to see as God sees? There are two reasons. First, the “whole world lieth in the power of the evil one” (I John 5:19). Christ tells us this evil one, Satan, “does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44). He is “the deceiver of the whole world” (Revelation 12:9).
Secondly, man’s heart is “deceitful above all things, and desperately sick” (Jeremiah 17:9). Our sin nature has blinded us to the truth, and we cannot know it apart from the grace of God. Paul characterized deceived individuals walking “in the futility of their minds…darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance in them, due to the hardness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:17-18).
Reflect on the tragic condition that afflicts men without Christ. The world itself is dark and full of falsehood because of the evil one. Man’s own heart provides no relief for the blindness caused by his own sin. Mankind apart from Christ is blind and walks in darkness. Yet he thinks he sees. This is the tragedy of sin. Man thinks that he sees, but he is spiritually blind! Solomon testified to the futility of man’s own thinking when he observed, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death” (Proverbs 14:12).
Men need light to guide their steps and point the way. The Psalmist prayed “Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling” (Psalm 43:3). Christ gives light! He said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
It is through the word of Christ that we have light. The Psalmist wrote “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. The unfolding of your word gives light” (Psalm 119:105,130). It is through his word that we learn of our sin. The world will tell us there is no such thing as sin and that we are fine, but Jesus’ words teach us that we are thoroughly sinful, wretched in the eyes of a holy God, and needing salvation (Romans 6:23). Our darkened understanding will tell us that hell is not real or that a loving God would not send anyone there if it were real. But Christ teaches that hell is a real place “prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41) and warns of its inevitability for those who reject him (John 3:36). Finally, the world will tell us there are many ways to heaven, but Jesus declares “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6; emphasis added).
Yes, true success in life comes from seeing things the way God sees them and submitting to his view. This requires that, as the Psalmist did, we “consider all your [God’s] precepts to be right” (Psalm 119:128). In the words of Solomon, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Do you value God’s view above your own?
From the Chaplain 