I was visiting a church recently and a gentleman got up to make some announcements. During the course of his speech he went on to quote a passage from Scripture that I still haven’t been able to find. “Like it says in the Bible”, he declared, “Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes”. Now I think this is good advice (especially since by the time you judge him you will be a mile away and have his shoes) but I’m quite sure that it is not in the Bible.
Have you ever noticed that when a phrase becomes a familiar adage or has a proverbial ring to it, somehow it seems like it must be true or even scriptural? But just because something sounds true doesn’t make it so.
This morning I was just thinking about some old adages that the Devil must love. Over the next few days I will list a few that I think must be his favorites. Maybe you can help me add to the list.
#1. What You Don’t Know Won’t Hurt You
This story was written in Christianity Today (1993). Alila stood on the beach holding her tiny infant son close to her heart. Tears welled in her eyes as she began slowly walking toward the river’s edge. She stepped into the water, silently making her way out until she was waist deep, the water gently lapping at the sleeping baby’s feet. She stood there for a long time holding the child tightly as she stared out across the river. Then all of a sudden in one quick movement she threw the six month old baby to his watery death.
Native missionary M.V. Varghese often witnesses among the crowds who gather at the Ganges. It was he who came upon Alila that day kneeling in the sand crying uncontrollably and beating her breast. With compassion he knelt down next to her and asked her what was wrong. Through he sobs she told him, “The problems in my home are too many and my sins are heavy on my heart, so I offered the best I have to the goddess Ganges, my first born son.” Brother Varghese’s heart ached for the desperate woman. As she wept he gently began to tell her about the love of Jesus and that through Him her sins could be forgiven. She looked at him strangely. “I have never heard that before,” she replied through her tears. “Why couldn’t you have come thirty minutes earlier? If you did, my child would not have had to die.”
In Second Kings 7 we read that the city of Samaria had been surrounded and besieged by the Syrians who were basically waiting to starve the Samarians out of the city. The situation within the walls was so dire the Bible says that a donkey’s head was sold for 80 pieces of silver, and a quarter of a piece of dove’s dung sold for five pieces of silver. How many of you know, that when you are eating horses heads and dove’s dung, you are hungry!! In fact the people were so hungry that the Bible tells one story of two mothers who were fighting because they had eaten the one mothers child and then when it came time to eat the other mother’s child it was nowhere to be found.
Then the Lord intervened. In the middle of the night, God caused the Syrians to hear a sound like a mighty army riding towards them and they were so afraid that they ran for their lives and left all of their things behind. Outside the walls there were thousands of tents filled with food and wine, clothes and money. Meanwhile, inside the walls people were dying of hunger.
And then the story goes on to tell about a group of lepers who decided that since their lives weren’t worth much anyways, they might as well take their chances and venture outside the walls in search for food. When they saw that the Syrian camp was completely deserted, they found themselves in the middle of a smorgasbord that makes Golden Corral look like a soup kitchen. As they were gorging themselves, one of the lepers looked up at his friends with guilt written all over his face. He put down his half-eaten turkey leg and said, “We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace…” (v.9)
The adage “What you don’t know wont hurt you” is simply garbage. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” the prophet cried (Hos. 4:6). What Alila didn’t know cost her the life of her son. What the Samarians didn’t know was starving them to death. Food was available to them, but they didn’t know it. Nourishment was available, but they didn’t know it. Salvation was available, but they didn’t know it and they would have all died of starvation if those old lepers hadn’t realized that it was wrong to keep this “good news” to themselves. The truth is that what don’t know could kill you.
This is eternal life: to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. (John 17:3)
Today there are more than 3-billion people in the world that have never heard about Jesus Christ. What they don’t know will not only hurt them but send them to Hell. What are you going to do about it?
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Another killer phrase in use is “God knows those who serve Him”.They say this to bail themselves out whenever you are trying to correct them.Their minds seem to have recorded that as a permanent bail instead of amending their ways.
One phrase that saddens me is when I hear “God moves in mysterious ways” from Christians who do not understand the wonderful promises we have in scripture.
God bless you Vladymyr. May the Lord give you a mighty harvest of souls!
Amen Ijiwade! The harvest is waiting for you.
Good one Joy. Mother’s love that adage don’t they… I was so relieved to find out that one is not in the Bible 🙂
@ Daniel R. True. Im not sure why people think it was an apple. Probably because that is the way it is usually portrayed in classic art. The only tree we know for sure was there is a fig tree (they made garments out of fig leaves). Also interesting that Jesus cursed a fig tree. hmmm…that’s food for thought (no pun intended)
@Peter A. You are right…it is true that “man looks at the outward appearance”, and it is for this very reason we should be careful to, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Mat 5:16) It definitely should not be taken as a justification for outward compromise. Good thought my brother!
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.I think a rightful positioned heart will with God will bring forth decent dressing and characters as fruits.
I have heard people chew “Man looks at the outward appearance,God looks at the heart”, so i can dress anyhow,act any how,my heart matters anyway!They have chosen to dwell on misinterpretation,to perish for the lack of knowledge.
You hear people say. God loves me just the way I am. Whether it be homosexual, a drunkard, a liar, a cheat, etc… etc… We know that is not true. God indeed may love the person, but surely not the way they are if they practice these things.
I have heard this numerous times. The forbidden fruit Eve ate was an apple….. Really? Where does it say that in scripture?
Cleanliness is next to godliness! :o)
Good write up.
I’m going to deny myself, take up my cross and follow Jesus. I’m not going to keep the good news to myself and see millions trooping to hell.
That will preach Paul…especially in youth ministry.
Jared, I have had a problem with that one too. I never met someone so heavenly minded that they were no earthly good…although I’ve met quite a few so earthly minded the were just no good period 🙂
Thanks Barry. I agree. It is troubling how little the Scriptures are really preached and known by the people of God. We need a revival of love for Gods Word. Bless you friend.
You are right Pastor David. I have OFTEN heard people say that this is scripture, but it actually comes from an old 17th century hymn that says, “God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform”.
Also, good thought about the Job quote. I never thought about that before. I suppose, I would interpret it as meaning that it is God who has the final word and in that sense I would say that it is still a correct statement.
Great thoughts guys!
Peter…good call. That is one that I am going to use.
What about “God helps those who help themselves.” The truth is the CROSS is because we cant help ourselves and we need HIS HELP. God only helps those who CANT help themselves.
I’ve heard people often say, “God works in mysterious ways.” As far as I know, He works according to His Word & the cousel of His will. And the one often misquoted, “The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away.” (Job 1:21) Little did Job know when he made this statement, it was Satan, not God, who caused the catastrophe on Job’s children and property.
How about this one that we use to talk about….”Don’t become so heavenly minded, that you’re no earthly good.” – quite the opposite I think…we should become so heavenly minded that we are earthly good. Ha!
the so called bible verse that the man was saying,I think is a indian saying, so many times we pick up things of the world and try to put God in the middle of it.that shows us how despertly we need the word of God. it bothers me to think some people may not lay hands on eternal life because of some false thing they heard. Jesus is the way the truth and the life. salvation can be be found in no other name..
Good stuff and so true! how about… “whatever floats your boat.” Basically saying do whatever you want as long as it makes you feel good.
Wow! I am blessed this is awesome Daniel! straight to the point, inspiring & challenging!
I gonna preach the Gospel in Ukrain and Russia…
My first meeting begins in a week…