The result of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever.  Isaiah 32:17

The definition of insanity according to the dictionary is the state of being seriously mentally ill, madness or extreme foolishness or irrationality.  You may have heard it said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.  That quote has been attributed to Albert Einstein, but it is unsure if he said it or if it was first published in a Narcotics Anonymous pamphlet.  I don’t know who actually said it first, but I know that it makes perfectly good sense.

My brother-in-law has lost over 30 pounds. How did he do it? He found a program called Optivia that worked for him. He made changes in the way he was eating and thinking about food.  He now coaches others to do the same.  He is currently coaching a good friend who has also lost weight on this program. She also has changed the way she eats and thinks about food.  The common thread with any weight loss program is that if you want to lose weight, you have to make some changes in your lifestyle. My brother-in-law and my friend have found a program that works.  It makes sense to do what works when we are trying to make positive changes, right?  Why would you do something that doesn’t work.  I want to lose weight, but I don’t want to change the way I eat.

The problem is we want certain results without affecting any changes. My car is dirty. If I don’t wash it, it will stay dirty. I can’t wish it to be clean.  I have to take some type of action in order to get the desired result.  It’s taking the action that we sometimes shy away from. We want results with no effort. That usually doesn’t happen, my friend. Sorry to bust your bubble. But if you want results in any area of your life, you must make changes.

Our scripture passage today speaks of the result of righteousness.  It tells us that the result of righteousness will be peace and the effect of righteousness will be quiet confidence forever. So, if we look at the flip side of this, we would look at the opposite of righteousness which is sinful behavior.  If we engage in sinful behavior, the devil will take over our lives which will result in evil, wicked behavior and we know that nothing good comes of this.  The bible has a lot to say about evil, wicked people. Romans 6:23 tells us that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Revelation 21:8 tells us that the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, idolaters and liars will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.  Revelation 20:10 tells us that the devil that has deceived them will be thrown into the lake of fire along with the false prophet where they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  Psalm 5:4 says, For you are not a God who delights in wickedness, evil may not dwell with you.  Proverbs 8:13 tells us The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.  Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 

If the opposite of righteousness is evil, wicked behavior then we must expect to get the opposite result.  The opposite of peace is chaos and turmoil.  Now I know that this is what happens, because I have lived that life and had that result.  I have been there, done that, and got the t-shirt.  But, hey, you don’t have to take my word for it.

It took me many years to realize that God was not going to honor my sinful behavior.  It took many years to realize that if I wanted true peace and joy in my life that I was going to have to give it over to God and trust in Him.  I was going to have to pray for Him to help me maintain that breastplate of righteousness that we are told to use in Ephesians 6:14. God uses things in Ephesians 6 like truth, righteousness, peace, the gospel and the sword of the spirit to describe His armor that he provides for us.  These things will keep us safe and protected. These things will shield us and give us lives of peace and joy.

If you want peace and joy in your life, you must strive for righteousness.  If you don’t have peace and joy then search your life for areas where you are not striving for righteousness.  If you have tried ignoring God, then I am willing to bet that you are not living a life filled with peace and joy.  I’m not talking about your circumstances. I am talking about you having that peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and that joy that abounds no matter your circumstances.  If you are doing something that doesn’t work, isn’t it time that you try something that does work.  I can assure you that if you turn to God and trust and obey Him, that works. I have done it and I have never missed my old way of life.  I have never regretted one single change that I made in my life in my effort to achieve righteousness. I pray that you will do the same.  The change will do you good! Doesn’t it just make good sense to do what works?

Have a great day!