GOD’S WORD – LIFE’S PERFECT STANDARD

“And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded upon the rock” – Luke 6:48b

A standard is something accepted and used as a measure, norm or model, and GOD’S WORD IS LIFE’S PERFECT STANDARD: “Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded upon the rock” (Lk.6: 47-48). In sports for example, standards are set, which if the athletes don’t reach, they aren’t allowed to compete. World class athletes train for several hours a day in preparation for their competition, yet only a few ever make it to the Olympics. Standards enhance excellence, and are not meant to be lowered to admit mediocrity.

God’s Word is the Perfect Standard for every believer; it is the firm, rocky foundation that guides and guards against life’s tempests and storms. The Word of God is meant to play a vital role in our lives daily, being the Source and Fountain of Faith: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom.10:17).  Meanwhile, “we walk by Faith and not by sight” (2Cor.10:7). Without God’s Word, there is no faith; and without Faith, there is no life: “The just shall live by faith” (Heb.10:38a). Faith comes by hearing the word, and we walk by Faith. Therefore, we walk (live our life daily) by the word of God and not by sight (our feelings).

Today more than ever before, God’s Word appears to not be a priority in the life of many believers or the standard by which they live. In spite of the privilege of having more Bibles and translations in print than any other time in human history, many people relate with God’s Word superficially. Yet, a Bible on the shelf is of no use. It cannot do much if it is not opened, read, and applied. That’s why many individuals are walking by sight and by feelings and struggling to live in victory. Much of human troubles occur because choices and decisions are not based on the standard and authority of God’s word but on unreliable authorities and standards.

Among such imperfect standards or faulty foundations are: emotion, reason, culture, and tradition.

Emotion is a fluid standard, which says, “It just feels right.” It is based on feelings, determined by circumstances, and dictated by the senses.

Reason is a flaky foundation, which says, “It seems like the logical thing to do. I cannot see any other way of doing it.” It is based on the limited assumptions of logic, science and observations.

Culture is a shifting standard, which says, “Everyone is doing it. It is the in thing, what’s in vogue, and the most popular thing to do.”

Tradition is an unstable standard, which says, “We have always done it like this. It is the way I have always been taught.”

All four of these ‘standards’ are imperfect and flawed by the fall. They are not solid and dependable every time. Only the Word of God is a Perfect Standard that will never lead us in the wrong direction, and is neither flawed nor superficial.

Too often we set standards according to societal norms instead of setting them against the standard of God’s Word. We do well to get into the Word, and allow it to be our ultimate standard for living. It has been said that there are two ways to meet a standard: live up to it, or lower it. Society has been lowering the standard of holiness and morality, but God never changed His standards. The church in some instances has lowered the standard of what it takes to be a Christian and in doing so made sin more acceptable, giving it new names, but never getting rid of it. Standing on the God’s Word as our Standard for Living, we’ll never be disappointed!