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What Makes Things Right and Wrong?

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This Is A Question as Old as Time Itself


 

The Ring of Gyges is a mythical magic artifact mentioned by Plato in Book 2 of his Republic. It grants its owner the power to become invisible at will.


In recounting of the myth, an unnamed ancestor of Gyges was a shepherd in the service of the ruler of Lydia. After an earthquake, a cave was revealed in a mountainside where he was feeding his flock. Entering the cave, he discovered that it was in fact a tomb with a bronze horse containing a corpse larger than that of a man, who wore a golden ring, which he pocketed. Later he discovered that the ring gave him the power to become invisible by adjusting it. He then arranged to be chosen as one of the messengers who reported to the king as to the status of the flocks. Arriving at the palace, he used his new power of invisibility to seduce the queen, and with her help he murdered the king, and became king of Lydia himself.


Through the story of the ring, Republic considers whether a person would do right or wrong if there was no fear of being caught or punished.


How would you act if there was no fear of being caught?


Whether a Christian or not I believe that we naturally are born with a sense of what is right and wrong. Last week I wrote about different things done in the light and dark. I think this is evidence that we are born with an internal compass for right.


This doesn’t mean that we aren’t constantly fighting against evil that is trying to pull us off course.

 


In Matthew 3:2, John says, “Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” As Christian’s we believe this right and wrong comes from God and the pull of the fallen comes from Satan.

 

 

Doing right or wrong is a choice and if there is a Hell you have much more to lose if you choose wrong.

 

How Should I Love My Neighbor?

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By Remembering They Are as Important as You Are

 

 

We’ve all been told to ‘love my neighbor as much as I love myself’. This sounds simple enough in theory. The problem comes when attempting to put it into action.


What does it mean to “love my neighbor”?


In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus talks about the “Rich Man and Lazarus”. In this story the Rich Man dies and goes to Hell and Lazarus dies and goes to Heaven. There’s no indication in the story that the Rich Man was mean to Lazarus. It appears that he was just oblivious, unaware and uncaring.


The Rich Man doesn’t appear to have been a bad man…so why did he end up in Hell?


Loving your neighbor begins with loving God. Loving your neighbor as much as yourself is found in Matthew 22:36-40. In this Scripture, before Jesus says anything about your neighbor He says to, “Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and most important command.” After that He says to, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”


This has to be done in the right order. God first…everything else after.


So, why did Lazarus make it to Heaven and the Rich Man ended up in Hell? It’s pretty simple really. The Rich Man didn’t believe. You can’t earn your way into Heaven by doing good, Ephesians 2:4-10. You can’t buy your way into Heaven with money, Acts 8:18-21. This doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with having money or doing good.


You don’t have to be a believer to treat others well, but you do have to be a believer to get to Heaven. If you are a believer, you will treat others well. If you have your priorities in the right order, “Love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Then “Loving your neighbor as yourself” will come naturally. Every one of us is as important to God as the next.

 


There’s only one way to get to Heaven. You must believe that Jesus is God come to earth, that God raised Jesus from the dead and tell this to others.


If the Rich Man had believed, he would have loved Lazarus and treated him differently. Love God. Love your neighbor. Love yourself. Believe before it’s too late.


Death is the ultimate equalizer.

 

Closeness to God Equals Increased Temptation

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The Devil Isn’t Worried Until We Begin To Get Too Close To God

This week was the first Sunday of Lent. Lent is a part of the Christian liturgical calendar to serve as preparation for Easter; through prayer, penance and fasting. It is to commemorate the sacrifice of Jesus during His 40 days in the desert in Luke 4:1-14.

In this scripture Satan tempts Jesus with food after 40 days of not eating. Then he offers Him every worldly thing that He could ever want.

All temptations come with a heavenly price.

Pastor Lee told a story of two young brothers who snuck off to a toy store close to their home. The boys were playing and having a great time. After wearing themselves out they fell asleep in a playhouse. The store employees had no idea they were there at closing time and subsequently they were locked in the store. Later when they woke up it was like a mega Christmas with some birthdays sprinkled on top. They played with toys to their hearts content completely unaware of their parents’ anguish.

While the boys were having the time of their life, their parents were frantically searching, calling neighbors and the police. After much searching by many people the boys were found in the store. The store was asked why the alarm never sounded, the alarm company said, “because they never bothered the doors by trying to get out.”

These boys thought they were in paradise while their parents were in hell.

Too much of the time we are content to be playing in our own ‘toy store’ never bothering to get out. We are tempted with shortsighted worldly pleasures every day and neglect to consider God’s concern with our whereabouts. We are constantly faced with choices that will have eternal impact. It’s up to us to be prepared for these temptations.

Little things don’t seem to carry the same significance of big ones. That’s why the Devil uses them to trip us up. Arrows are little things, but they can do mortal damage. In Ephesians 6:10-18 we’re told to “Put on the full Armor of God to fight against the devil’s evil tricks.”.

Being prepared early and often is the best way to be ready for temptations.