The other day my husband and I were asked if we would continue to try to live a good life — ie always trying to do the right thing — if God were not real. Our very quick answer was: no, why would we? You see, to us, the whole issue of wrong and right, guilt and consequences becomes irrelevant if there is no God.
This conviction comes all the way from Genesis, just after God created man. God wanted His creation to live in innocence and peace, and to have that life forever. He gave Adam and Eve the Tree of Life for that purpose. But there was one tree He asked them not to eat from: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. That tree would open their eyes to the difference between right and wrong, the feelings of shame that come with wrong, and ultimate death due to sinful choices and corruption in our inner man. See Genesis 2 & 3.
Of course, Satan convinced them to eat that very fruit, and that knowledge of right and wrong in our conscience has been passed down to every generation since. But, as we said to our friend, if God wasn’t real, and none of that story was true, then we would call into question even the existence of wrong and right. Every man would live for himself and for his own pleasure. There would be no reason not to.
In fact, I think it is played out in much of our society, where people have rejected belief in God — corruption has taken hold. You see it in the smallest things. Eg someone gets a speeding fine and their reaction is “I was only five ks over, I didn’t do anything wrong.” Rules become irrelevant. People live according to their own agendas.
Not for me thanks. I prefer to believe that God is real, right and wrong are very real, sin and judgement are very real. But more importantly, I believe in a God who forgave all of my wrong decisions and sin and has given me a place with Him in Heaven when I am finished here on earth. Praise God for His grace!
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. [John 3:16 NIV]
Romancing The Rock 
Praise God, indeed! Real and alive and intimately involved with us at every level.
Blessings
Dotti 🙂
I am so thankful for that Dotti – God is such a big part of my life, I couldn’t imagine it without Him. 🙂
You’re right, the line quickly becomes blurred without that pure, absolute standard in place.
God Bless,
Paula
It is sad that this world seem to reject many absolutes. They seem to prefer the hazy lines, but then the result of that life is insecurity – a feeling of being lost. Our world needs the Lord so desperately.
Interesting you used speeding as an example. Something that really frustrates me is Christians who say just that. “It shouldn’t be 40 here anyway”. Fine, write a letter to the council! If you can obey God in the big things you should be able to obey him in the little things. Our lives should not be the same as everyone else’s!
I agree Katelyn. We should start with the little things. I guess it’s one way we can show we believe in right and wrong & therefore believe in a God of absolutes.