Dennis Abernathy

Isn't it easy to rationalize and blame others or circumstances or fate? We see this all the way back to Adam in the Garden of Eden who said to God: "The woman you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate" Thus Adam shifted the blame not only to Eve, but even to the One who gave Eve to him, i. e. God himself. Adam sought to justify his transgression. Humanity has done the same from the Garden of Eden onward. Excuses do not justify sin! They did not Adam's; they will not ours either.

We see such rationalization as the member of the Senate who said: "I did nothing that a thousand other men would not have done." My point is that we are prone to rationalizing our conduct, excusing and justifying ourselves, thus calling evil good. But the problem is that God doesn't think too highly of the attempt to rationalize our misguided and sinful behavior and calling it good. For example, in Luke 18 Jesus spoke of the self-righteous Pharisee who stood and prayed: "God, I thank you that I am not like other men-extortioners, unjust, adulterers. Or even as this tax collector" (v. 11). The Pharisee kidded himself into thinking he was something when he was not. You see, he was skilled in the art of rationalization. But a publican, whom the Pharisee looked upon as the most sinful of men, saw himself as he really was prayed: "God, be merciful to me a sinner" (v. 13). What was Jesus' verdict? He said: "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he that humbles himself will be exalted" (v. 14).

The Pharisee was like many today, who trust only in themselves, and acknowledge nothing sinful in their conduct, and who have no desire in looking to the Word of God for justification. They rationalize that their sinful behavior is good and that God accepts such, and no one has the right to question whatever they do. The problem with this attitude is that through rationalization their evil conduct is called good.

I'm sure you are aware of Flip Wilson's comical phrase: "The devil made me do it." Sure, the devil can entice and allure us to do wrong, and he can make evil look good, but it is always our choice to the behavior we choose. Calling evil good does not make it good! Think on these things.