Why Righteousness Is Reasonable and Sin Is Not

Daily Devotion | Day 282

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18, KJV).

Sin is the most irrational choice a human being can make. Sin is unnatural. But righteousness is natural. Sin is abnormal. But righteousness is normal. Sin is unreasonable. But righteousness is reasonable. We’ve been brainwashed into thinking that sinning is a normal part of life. Nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is, sin is not part of life. It is part of death (Romans 5:12-14; 6:23). Sin is not normal, at all.

God’s plan from the beginning hasn’t changed. Righteous living is the norm; sin is the exception. Unfortunately, centuries of inaccurate teaching have led many to believe that sin is the expected norm and righteousness is the exception. The truth is, a righteous life is what agrees with your God-given nature. Anything else is an abnormal life.

Let’s listen to what God is saying in today’s opening passage. “Come now,” He says, “and let us reason together.” God is the essence of Reason. He created us in His image and likeness. This means we are intelligent beings capable of making reasonable choices. This is also why it is possible for us to reason with God. Reasoning with God enables you to understand clearly the choices before you.

God reminds His people that they are stained with sin. But if they would reason with Him, that condition would change. Instead of the stain of sin, they would be white as snow or wool. It is a choice between clean and unclean, pure and impure. The rational choice here is to prefer clean over unclean, and pure over impure. When you sin, you’re not using reason. Sinning is foolishness. It is like preferring to wear dirty clothes when you have the option of wearing clean clothes.

In the New Testament, Paul made a similar appeal to Christians: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). The only reasonable (logical, intelligent) service you can render as a Christian is a service of holiness and righteousness. That’s it. Anything to the contrary is unreasonable. And if it is unreasonable, then it is unacceptable.

Be reasonable. Choose purity.

Blessing: May your light shine brightly today. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

For further study: Romans 6:1-23 and Ezekiel 18:1-32