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| “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil” |
| —Isaiah 5:20a |
We seem to live in a world turned upside down. When I reflect on my 67 years of life, I recognize much has changed.
Yes, some things, many things, are better: medical advances, technology, transportation, to name just three. Other things have become much worse. Sin has become more open, more profound, more accepted.
People seem harsher, less caring, more focused on their own pleasure, less interested in God.
The comedian and radio talk show host, Dennis Miller, has recently released a new comedy special entitled “America 180.” He pokes an ironic finger at all the changes that have taken place in our culture and society in the last decade. It’s a very funny routine, but horribly sad, at the same time.
Scripture addresses this “turned upside down” theme in Isaiah 5:20-21:
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we need to recognize that we can become all-too-easily caught up in this 180 degree shift. If we allow ourselves to be influenced by the wrong people, we can end up flipped and far away from the God who loves us.
Let us purpose to remain open to the Holy Spirit’s leading, even if it means we have to distance ourselves from people and influences that will cause us to flip upside down. We can still reach out to people in God’s love without letting them hold sway over our thoughts, words, and deeds.
