How to arrive at good conclusions
Jan 15, 2010
How well would you travel South Africa with this map today?
How well would you explore South Africa with this map?
Yesterday, I became aware of how easy it is to arrive at poor conclusions. I realized it while I was reading Isaiah. This is the verse that got me thinking along these lines in Isaiah 1v5. "Why will you still be struck down? Why will you continue to rebel? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint."
It occurred to me that the quality of my life is largely determined by my decisions and responses. But decisions are preceded with conclusions. How I see God and the world, determines how I conclude any situation. Only then do I decide, and therefore, it is more important to know how to conclude than it is to decide. Once we know the true diagnosis of any disease, we could google the prognosis, but the trick lies in the proper conclusion. It marks the difference between my family doctor and WebMD.com. I've seen some people make bad decisions, only because of a poor agenda, an unresolved emotion, a bitterness or a loyalty. They did not lack in gifts of strategy or in decisiveness, but their ability to conclude well was compromised before they said a word.
So here are some thoughts about conclusions from Isaiah 1.
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Sin devastates our ability to understand clearly and discern well. (Isaiah 1:5) The moment we have things to hide, we become irrational. Sin drives you crazy and hinders your ability of common sense. That's why God says "cease to do evil" in verse 16. Stop. "I can't". You can.
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Without seeking God's will conclusively, we will forsake Him "decisionally". (Isaiah 1:3-5)
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Preexisting ideas don't guarantee good conclusions. (Isa 1:3 refers to intimate knowledge of God, not traditional ideas) Since the Holy Spirit is ever leading us deeper into God's truth, and since God's ways are higher than our ways, we should expect to have our presuppositions challenged by God's agents; His word, His Spirit and His men. This is where loyalty to men or ways, former traditions or the following of trends become problematic.
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The environment within your sphere of influence is an indicator of God's pleasure or displeasure. (Isa 1:5-9) It is good to assess and measure the quality of people's lives around you. Are they doing well, in spite of circumstances? Do they have a credible hope? Are they maturing and joyful? Are they self-honest and courageous? We see how the Israelites were living under judgment, of which God asks of them, "Why will you still be struck down, why continue to rebel?" It is God's grace to bring us low when we drift away from Him, because He is our greatest reward and our best interest. We must learn to read our signs and times. Everything that happens to us doesn't say something about us, but still, we are to spot the overall trends in our lives as an input of wisdom.
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The quality of our conclusions determines the quality of our lives and inheritance.
(Isa 1:18-19) If we are willing and obedient, we will eat the good of the land (v19). However, this scripture is preceded by, "Come let us reason together,...though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow..." Therefore, the quality of our lives and inheritance, beyond the surety of our salvation as a finalized matter, hinges on our conclusions to be willing and obedient. The gospel of unmerited grace precedes obedience, but our faith and obedience determines our inheritance. -
The greatest conclusion you could make, is to seek God's face with all your heart. All other conclusions are lesser conclusions. According to God's definition of rebellion, in verses 2-4, we see that "not seeking God = forsaking God", according to God. He desires that we come "to see His face" (v12), without which, He sees all our christian duties as a mere trampling of His courts! How awful!
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Pray. (v12-15) Neither with long prayers, nor trusting in the form of the prayers. Neither ceremonial prayers, nor prayers that is accompanied with unchanged hearts and actions. But pray simply, and seeking His face, and repentantly concerned with God's presence, hating the stains of religion or the methods of man. Oh prayer, how will I testify to this powerful reality, that God loves prayers, that His ear is on the other side of my words, that He is eager to hear your voice. Pray. Want to make good conclusions? Pray. Pray. Pray.
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Don't defend yourself. Just come! (Isa 1:18) God sees it all. From Isa 1 it is clear that outward actions don't fool God. Arguments don't fool Him either. He requires a real turning towards His face only. More than sacrifice. More than ritual. More than any form of self-righteousness. He wants YOU. He is aware of our helpless estates, and He provided a way. His gospel is free and on offer. He says, "Come now..."
This list is far from complete, but may we be a generation that "seeks justice" - better translated as "deciding authoritatively and finally, what is right". (v17)
The picture I include here is one of the first maps drawn of Southern Africa, and how wrong it was! Arriving at good conclusions is like using an updated map, correct and precise, informative to best support decisions of direction. May God bless your growth in arriving at good conclusions.
