In the garden of Eden our ancestors Adam and Eve decided to set their own standards for right and wrong, and for nearly 6000 years their descendants have followed their example. And in society, when the majority is willing to accept or tolerate something, then it becomes okay, although it was considered wrong in the past.

When my wife and I were looking for an apartment in Germany in the 1970s, one of the first questions we were asked was: "Are you married?" If we hadn't been, then those landlords would not have considered us to be potential renters. That different now. Society generally accepts people living together without being married, although the Bible allows sex only in marriage.

Another example is homosexuality. In the 18th edition of Germany's Duden dictionary (1980) "heterosexuality" was defined as "the normal desire toward the opposite sex, in contrast to homosexuality". Just eleven years later, in the 20th edition of the Duden (1991), the definition read a bit differently: "The desire toward the opposite sex, in contrast to homosexuality". The definition of "hetereosexuality" was shortened by one word: "normal".

Of course, with their definitions dictionary editors only reflect what society thinks. The current definition does not consider "the desire toward the opposite sex" to be normal.

Concerning paying taxes, for years many Germans had the attitude: "Taxes are too high, so you really don't need to declare everything you earn for the tax office." The fact that some of these people have turned themselves in in the last 2-3 years does not reflect a change in society's attitude. Instead, it is the fear of getting caught that motivates them.

God's view of moral values is different than society's view. God's standard of righteousness doesn't change and is therefore not subject to the majority opinion of society.

We find God's standard in His word, and the Bible compares the word of God to a mirror (James 1:23). We might not always like what we see when we look into that mirror, but the reflection of what we should be does not vary. It is unchangeable.

Let's not be like others who ignore God's mirror and instead are influenced by society's majority opinion. Let's follow David's example: "Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts. See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way" (Psalm 139:23-24).

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!