There are two statements I have detested as far back as I can remember.
“Because I said so,” and “That’s just the ways it is.”
“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.” (Romans 13:7)
You may think me to be one of a rebellious nature, and you would be correct, I do not cater to fools, and I do not obey the directives of those who believe themselves, in great pride, to be better than the rest of us because of a title inferred upon them.
Offer me plausible reasons with verifiable evidence and perhaps I will acquiesce to your demands, but not until I have done conclusive in-depth research into the matter.
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10)
My beautiful wife and I have done this and been blessed in ways that we could never have imagined.
When the Almighty says, “Because I said so,” I obey now, without question.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
I am not optimistic for the outcome of these days we find ourselves in, in fact, just the opposite, I am extremely pessimistic concerning the path this world is upon, and rightfully so, because I have read His Word.
“That’s just the way it is” speaks of one who is a defeatist, one who has given up any hope, no matter what possible outcome might occur.
I watched the end of a football game the other night, one second left to go, the team leading had the ball and there was no doubt, they were going to win. But they had the same demeanor and character that they had on the first play, there was no celebration until that clock read zero.
If you live your life, even a few moments of it with a “that’s just the way it is” attitude, then you have lost hope, and that is not possible for one who has been born-again.
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:” (Job 19:25)
We think eternally, we live our lives not waiting for death, but in anticipation of eternal life. The only One we trust implicitly and without question, the only One that can say to us, “Because I said so,” is our Father in heaven, and our answer is always “Thy will be done.”
“But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:18)
It is the one who is intentionally dying to self, the one who is willing to have their mind transformed that obeys His will. Faith in His promises never allows us to say “that’s just the way it is,” save for when we realize who really is in charge, who it is that is directing the steps of mankind.
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
What is approaching cannot be stopped, the darkness is growing, evil men are becoming undaunted by the masses.
Because the Almighty has said that is what is going to happen.
When we witness to people and they turn a deaf ear to the Holy Spirit, when they question the Sovereignty of the Living God, we can say, “Because He said so.” When they doubt His attempts through us to reveal to them the path of life, of the way out of the darkness into His eternal light and they question His authority to cast out all who despise His Son into eternal damnation, we can say “That’s the way it is.”
Every opportunity to reach them must be taken my friends, right up to the edge of where you are positive that they are not going to heed the call, then they must be left to their own decision.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:31)
When the Almighty says, “Because I said so,” we listen and obey. When He says, “That’s just the way it is,” we say, “Thy will be done.”
If one such as myself, who still has the remnants of decades of a rebellious nature, can be taught these truths, so can you.
