When Wrong Seems Right

by Nikki Hixson

Recently I caught myself day dreaming about what my life would be like if I lived life like “them”… like “they” did.  You know “them”: the ones who don’t yet know Jesus… the ones who are their own gods, who are their own “boss”.  Those people exist, you know. They’re out there.  And there I was…. almost envying their lifestyle and how much “fun” I just knew they must have doing all the wrong things.  Sometimes wrong seems better; it almost seems right.

I can sense some judgment coming from some of you, but don’t act like I’m the only one who has done this… you know you’ve done it too. Maybe it was a split second thought; perhaps it didn’t last as long as mine.  Maybe there is no way you would describe it as “day dreaming”, but I would venture to guess that over half of you have struggled with this thought at some point or another.  Sometimes the wrong life seems easier, it seems better, it seems right.  Watching those people who don’t yet know Jesus, watching how they live, watching their lifestyle, sometimes it just seems better… and admitting that can be hard and just plain sucks.  However, I think the Lord knew we would struggle in this area.  When you read our key verse, it’s obvious that He knew.

As I sat there day dreaming, it was almost as if the Spirit of God pinched me to wake me up.  He reminded me that much like an owner’s manual for a car, God has created the same thing for us in the Bible.  He has instructions so that we can know how to live and operate in this thing called life.  He has spelled out for us in the Bible how our lives are supposed to be lived and what will and won’t work when we do certain things.  The Bible helps us to know what will happen when or if we do certain things. He knows the best way to live this thing called life.

READ PSALM 37:1-2, ISAIAH 40:8

God knows what is best, regardless of how I may feel about it or what I think.  He has instructed us in the way we should live, and because He made us, He knows what works best. Thoughts of envy may come because sometimes wrong does seem right, sometimes the “wrong” life seems better.  However, when those thoughts come, may you be reminded of two things: like the grass, those people will soon wither and die away.  Furthermore, your Creator knows what works and He has a manual in order for you to know what works, too.  And because He created this thing called life, His way is definitely the best way and His word endures forever.