1 Corinthians 6:19

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. ESV 1 Corinthians 6:19

I came across a postcard this past week that was titled “Some Things Never Change.” Below the title, it had headlines that could have been written yesterday, but in reality they dated back to 1974. The other evening while I was reading (which is what I do most evenings) I was reminded of the truth in that title when I came across a very timely thought in the C.S. Lewis classic Mere Christianity; circa 1952.

How often have you heard someone try and justify their actions because they perceived that the activity only affected them? The assumption in that line of thinking is that if it only affects me and I’m OK with it, then it must be OK. But here’s what Lewis had to say:

“When a man says about something he wants to do, ‘It can’t be wrong because it doesn’t do anyone else any harm,’ he is thinking only of the first thing [fair play]. He is thinking it does not matter what his ship is like inside provided that he does not run into the next ship.”

Some things never change... Isn’t this the same kind of reasoning we see in abundance today? Sadly though, that kind of thinking should not surprise us since we live in a culture that has embraced relativism and attempted to relegate absolute truth to the sidelines. We are the “if it feels good, do it” generation. But the great thing about absolute truth is that it cannot be ultimately defeated; suppressed maybe, but not defeated.

My personal conviction is that the Bible teaches absolute truth. And in its pages, I find that we are all created by God. Christians have the additional characteristic of being a “temple” for the Holy Spirit and have been redeemed (bought) with a price; which of course is reference to Jesus’ death on the cross. Now, you don’t have to dwell on these truths long to realize that you are not your own. God has a claim on you; at the very least as your Creator. Should that change how we view our actions? Here’s what Lewis says:

“If somebody else made me, for his own purposes, then I shall have a lot of duties which I should not have if I simply belonged to myself.”

So what do we conclude? Some things never change; indeed some things are eternal. God never changes. His word never changes. His expectations never change.

In the coming weeks, we’ll take a closer look at absolute truth and our duties and responsibilities as created beings. In the mean time, I challenge you to put away the notion of being accountable only to yourself and weigh your daily actions as someone “owned” by God and created for His purposes. Have a great week!