Absolutes Have Become Obsolete
We are moving into very trying times—the world’s beliefs are transforming from what it has always been, to what’s known as a modern era where people have been convinced that it’s time for change to happen ... progress needs to be undertaken and accepted so we can move on from old-fashioned morals and re-evaluate and then create what we believe morals should be.
You’ll notice the world as we knew it has had a dramatic adjustment – things that were known for certain only 10 years ago, are now being questioned and are under serious threat of being modified to suit man’s opinion. The prime reason this global change has taken place, is due to absolutes becoming obsolete.
Definition of ‘absolute’: complete, total, entire, perfect, pure, not relative or comparative.
When something that is absolute is tinkered with a little here and skewed a little there, it is no longer absolute, but a probable proposal that comes under the category of simply being ones perception.
The interesting thing I found here, was when I looked up the word ‘perception’, the dictionary explains it like this; ‘The way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted. The ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.’
To me, that definition sums up everything this article is outlining.
If we, instead of relying on the Spirit to lead and guide us into all truth (John 16:13), allow our senses to take precedence and use that as our guide to find truth, it’s a devastatingly downward spiral to a throng of lies. And once the truth has been replaced with a lie in one area, it inevitably leaks into other areas until all you have is a bundle of falsehoods.
Absolutes have been re-defined and re-packaged to bring alternatives.
To go from saying something is absolute, to changing it to something that can be questioned and even undermined, a huge transition has to take place. This transition has been one that has been given roots to grow and taken form over a period of time. Years of slightly doubting a verse here and not quite believing a Scripture there, has developed a generation of lukewarm.
Revelation 3:15-16
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would that you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.
God would prefer us to be one or the other—genuine believers or not a believer at all, because as a genuine believer, you will be on fire for the Lord, living solely for Him where your works will be that of faith. And as a non-believer, you aren’t playing games or kidding yourself, there’s no pretence, which opens up the opportunity for you to repent and come to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour.
You see, being lukewarm is those who profess to be a Christian, regularly attending church and saying the right things, however deep down, it isn’t real to them, they’re just playing a game but they’re not being honest with themselves. They deceive themselves into believing their own deceit. This is such a dangerous position for them to be in because they are fooling themselves into believing that they’re right with God ... attributing this to their self-righteous works and ‘doing the right thing’ by going to church etc., however, their heart is not for God at all – it’s for self-gratification so they feel good about their life and convince themselves that they’re okay and are set to go to heaven when they die. It’s the age-old attitude of being able to say, “I’m a good person, therefore I’ll go to heaven”. This is a false sense of security that the enemy loves to use on people. It blots out Jesus and His finished work on the cross—totally ignoring the fact that He is the bridge—He is the only way to heaven ... and this is none other than Jesus of the Bible who is the one and only true Jesus.
Luke 5:32
“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Exceptions to the rule brings perversion to the truth.
When absolutes are squashed out of the church, all that’s left is a building full of hypocrites with nothingness. Jesus is absolute and there is no church without Him—our chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20).
When absolutes are tampered with so they become a series of possibilities and debatable options, a different Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4) comes into existence in the minds of those who are asking the questions. For example; “When Jesus came to the earth, He came with love and taught us how to love, so when He comes back again, He is not coming to judge but to bring love to us all.”
This is a prime example of one of many of the modern church’s new-age messages that is beginning to seep into the minds and hearts of numerous professing Christians. And the reason it’s being so widely accepted is because the absolutes have been blurred and the lie sounds loving. Yes, Jesus is love and He is our role model on how we should live our lives, however, when He returns, He is coming to judge. He is coming as a lion (Revelation 5:5) with a sword and will be judging us all—and whether we think that’s loving or not doesn’t matter, because God’s Word tells us that it’s going to happen and that means it will happen!
Revelation 19:11-15
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon it was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a robe dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goes forth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
We wouldn’t know what love is if it weren’t for Him.
1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.
The fact that this earth is still flourishing and the planet is sustained for us humans to safely inhabit shows the amazing extent of God’s grace and mercy towards man—His love is unending and He is allowing this time for men to come to know Him before it’s too late.
We cannot change absolutes—and although some people have successfully altered their thoughts on what is absolute and what isn’t, it still does not change the absolutes because absolutes are unchangeable. Ultimately, absolutes will be the only thing that stands forever!
Even different Bible translations have brought with them some large doctrinal errors in order to eliminate absolutes, replacing literal word-for-word Bible Scriptures with thought-for-thought and in some cases, paraphrases. A well-known Scripture that many prosperity preachers love to quote is this verse:
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. – Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
I’m sure you know this Scripture well and have heard it plenty of times. However, what you may not know, which I only just came into the realisation of myself recently, is that this translation of this particular verse has been totally misinterpreted. The accurate version is this:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJ)
As you can clearly see, this is not a verse about financial prosperity at all. It has been distorted to the point where the real reason for the verse has been totally abolished. Instead of this being a Scripture about God’s plans of prosperity for people, it’s actually about God’s thoughts being those of peace for His people. And when you look up the Greek word for peace, the original translation is ‘shalom’. So it’s clear to see that the correct word to use in place of ‘shalom’ is the word ‘peace’, not ‘prosper’.
We have to be so careful to ensure we’re not making absolutes obsolete by tweaking a word here and there, changing it to what we would prefer it to say. We may be able to change, add or delete words, which the Bible warns us not to do (Revelation 22:18-19), but we will never be able to make it truth.
Jesus is absolute! His Word is absolute! His truth is absolute!
To remain strong in the Lord and be able to walk in the Spirit in this ever-increasing wicked world, we need to know what is absolute and stand firm on it—God’s entire Word is absolute and it is the only solid rock we can rely on. There will be those who will attempt to bring doubts and a flurry of well-thought-out opinions to try to change the absolutes, and as J.C. Ryle so eloquently stated:
"It is neglect of the Bible which makes so many a prey to the first false teacher whom they hear."
The best way to determine between a falsehood and truth, is being grounded in the Word of God. "What is the best safeguard against false doctrine? The Bible regularly read, regularly prayed over, regularly studied." ~ J.C. Ryle
This is backed up in the Bible when Paul commended the noble Bereans for studying the Scriptures to ensure what they were hearing was sound doctrine. (Acts 17:11)
The one thing we need to realise and believe wholeheartedly is this; God’s Word is truth ... and that is absolute!
John 17:17 Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth.
- By Jen Ayling