Dictating the Way You Live

Leviticus 18:3

After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

God was very direct with Israel that they were not to look to Egypt or Canaan to determine their way of living. God said we are not to do after their doings, and neither were we to walk in their ordinances. God made it clear to Israel that He was the One who was to dictate how they lived, dressed, and how they conducted themselves with each other and with the world.

Many years ago, I had a conversation with a fellow preacher who took issue with me pointing out that believers are to live a separated life from the world. I made the statement that we should not be reading books from people who do not believe like us. His main disagreement was based on the changing of times. He said that we don't live in the same world that those in the Bible times lived in. He then made a statement that shocked me. He said that truth will change with culture. His argument was that he felt there were things in the Scriptures that were archaic and that we cannot follow those directives today.

It does not matter if culture has changed; truth does not change. Truth has never been truth if it changes with culture because truth never changes. One plus one has always equaled two no matter what culture we live in. What goes up must come down because the laws or truths of gravity never change. Breathing in and out will always be a part of your life because the laws of living dictate that we must breathe in and out to live. It does not matter what culture we live in; you must breathe to live.

Likewise, God’s Word does not change with culture. Just because culture changes does not change the truths of God’s Word. Many may look at God’s Word as archaic, but if society followed it, we would find the ailments of society would be healed. The problem is not that God’s Word is archaic; it is that society refuses to follow God’s Word to its own hurt.

My friend, God’s Word can change culture if we choose not to change with culture. God’s Word is the believer’s manual on how to live, and it does not matter if society disagrees with God’s instructions on how to live; God’s way is always the right way to live. God should know what is best for our lives because He is the one who gave us life. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Trusting a society or culture that doesn't know what tomorrow holds is like driving blindfolded; you are sure to crash. I would rather trust the God who not only knows what tomorrow holds, but He knows what all of future holds.

One of the great battles you will fight in your life and ministry is not to change with culture. Always remember that if something was Scripturally wrong in the past, it is still wrong today. It does not matter if culture has dictated that wrong has become right; God is always true and His Word will never change. What God said was right and wrong in the past is still right and wrong today. Don't fall for the Satanic narrative that culture determines the rights and wrongs of the Scriptures. God’s Word never changes, and instead of letting culture change you for the worse, you would be better off letting God’s unchanging Word transform you into the image of Christ.