God's Word is inspired

Q: When I was young, my Sunday school teacher helped the class memorize an Old Testament passage when the world was very wicked: "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). When I was little I couldn't quite imagine that kind of living, but doesn't it seem that the world has regressed? This verse describes our world today. - W.R.

A: When everyone does what is right in his own eyes, there is no possibility of order and peace. Too many people today feel that moral standards are useless and out of date, and they ought to be free to make up their own minds about what is right and what is wrong. What is actually being said is that there is no such thing as right or wrong, and we should be free to decide how we want to behave. Sin is sin and it is, and always will be, wrong.

The greatest need in the world is the transformation of the soul and this is why Jesus came into the world -- to redeem sinners. The Bible says that God's Word is inspired and it corrects us when we're wrong and teaches us to do right (see 2 Timothy 3:16). But we must become new creations through salvation provided only by God's Son, Jesus the Savior. Before one can know what is right and wrong, he must first align himself with God. Only then is a person in a position to do right.

We live in an upside-down world. People hate when they should love, quarrel when they should be friendly, fight when they should be peaceful, wound when they should heal, steal when they should share. Truly, the world is in need of leadership that teaches the difference between right and wrong. Jesus came not only as the Teacher, but the Savior -- the great Forgiver.

(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

(C)2023 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.