Courtney Gilmore Have you ever had something happen in your life that suddenly made you wonder how in the world you got here? Maybe you were heading in the wrong direction for a while, but you didn’t realize it until something drastic happened. Then, all the sudden, you’re left wondering:
Where did I go wrong? How could I have let it go this far or get this bad? How long have I been going the wrong direction, and how long will it take to get back to where I should be? Can I even get back on track or have I gone too far? Is there any way to save what’s left or is it all a loss? Has too much time passed, are there too many hurt feelings, am I too far gone? Is there any hope for redemption? Can I turn my life around and make it tell a different story, or is it too late?
The Israelites had been heading in the wrong direction ever since Joshua and his generation died. Those people saw the mistakes their fathers made and refused to make the same ones. They committed themselves to God and His ways and were blessed because of it. They believed in God’s promises and acted on their beliefs. But after Joshua’s generation died, everyone began to do what was right in his own eyes.
Laws Not a Leader
Initially, it looks like they just needed a leader. Each time God rose up a judge, the people did change their ways for a while. They even said these were the times when they didn’t have a king, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Eventually, they asked for a king and God gave them one. But they did not need a leader. They needed to stop doing what they wanted to do, what they thought was best, what seemed right to them, and start doing what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
God had given them a set of laws to follow before they entered the Promised Land, but they were not following them. Leaders do not live forever, they are fallible, and not always accessible. But if we live by a set of laws, then when the leader dies, the laws remain. If that leader gets off track, the rules are still there to point everyone in the right direction. If the ruler is not available to speak on a specific matter, then you can consult the laws.
My Truth
Everyone cannot do what is right in their own eyes. When they do, chaos ensues. What one person wants is not what another wants. What one person believes is right, is wrong to another. By giving one their way, the rights or desires of another are trampled on.
This is, also, why we cannot all have our own truths. We can each have our own perceptions and our own experiences, but there must be one absolute truth. If not, society will break down. One person’s truth will clash with another person’s truth. Then, we will each begin to gather others to our side to bring validity to our truth, but their truth will be somewhere in between ours and the others. It will become a war of emotions and a contest to see who has been most aggrieved or who can be the loudest.
There must be good and bad, a right and a wrong way, and things that are true and false. We need one standard for everyone to live by. This is the only way for our society to function well.
So, then, whose truth do we live by? Who decides what’s right and wrong?
Who Gets to Decide?
It must be someone outside ourselves, right? You would not fully accept my way of doing things and I wouldn’t wholeheartedly accept yours. We are all flawed, emotional, and selfish people. So, it has to be someone who is above us all.
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward.
Psalm 19:7-11
Because God is perfect, unchanging, and has all our best interests at heart, He is the only One we can trust to make all the rules. We are deceiving ourselves if we think we are smarter than God.
Surely, you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay? Shall the thing made say of him who made it, “He did not make me?” Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding?”
Isaiah 29:16
The Creator is the One who is over the created. His ways must be higher than ours, and it is good that they are. We don’t trust anyone else to set the rules for us.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. ” For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9
Where You Went Wrong
So, I would venture to say, that like the Israelites, everything started going wrong in your life when you started doing what was right in your own eyes instead of what God said was right.
Do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands. For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you. Let not mercy and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.
Proverbs 3:1-8
So, all you have to do is find the place where you started going your own way, then find out what God wants you to do instead by searching the Bible and praying. He speaks to us through His written word and His Spirit speaks to our hearts.
The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgements endures forever.
Psalm 119:160
Once you know what He wants you to do, then just start doing it. It’s never too late to get back on the right path.
Repentance
This is what repentance looks like. It’s more than just saying “I’m sorry” or “I see that I messed up there.” It’s changing direction. No matter how far you wander from God’s path, it only takes one step to get back on. It is never too late. There is always time for repentance. God’s Word is full of scripture almost begging us to change direction and begin following God again.
If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14
There’s no shame in admitting that you took a wrong turn somewhere. The shame is in continuing in it after you realize what you’ve done. God doesn’t expect you to be perfect. He just wants you to turn back to Him so you don’t have to suffer the consequences of going your own way.
I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,” say the Lord God. “Repent and turn away from your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies,” says the Lord God. “Therefore, turn and live!”
Ezekiel 18:30-32
There is always hope. God forgives all those who ask and can redeem any situation.
Hope and Restoration
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s… He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame. He remembers that we are but dust.
Psalm 103:2-14
It is not too late! As long as you’re alive, your story can be rewritten. So, repent of going your own way and begin following God again. Then, trust Him to preserve what’s left, rebuild what seems ruined, restore what was lost, and make beauty out of the ashes.
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives… to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord… They shall rebuild the old ruins. They shall raise up the former desolations and repair the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.
Isaiah 61:1-4
Links
This is an excerpt from “Where Did it all Go Wrong?” as taught on YouTube, Podcast, and written on Substack. Read the beginning of the lesson for free. Or read it in its entirety, along with previous lessons over Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Judges, for $6/month or $60/year. Once subscribed, you’ll receive one lesson each week by email after that. Cancel anytime.
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