People
disagree on things; its just the way it is. Most of the time we all
think we are right when arguing with someone. But, what about that
point-in-time that you realize you are WRONG. That is an
uncomfortable moment, indeed.
Question:
What do you do when that happens? Get very angry, find fault or
belittle the other person? Perhaps, you just say something you
shouldn’t or just walk away, loudly proclaiming that you will never
speak to them again.
All
this sounds a bit childish, doesn’t it? But, what if at that very
moment when you realize you are wrong, the other person tries to
understand WHY you believe you are right and just wants to talk about
it? What then? Will you listen? Consider a moment, these words spoken
by God through the prophet Isaiah…
Isaiah
1 ( World English
Bible )
[18] ”Come now, and let us reason together,” says Yahweh: “Though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they
be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
God
just doesn’t win an “argument” with him, he gives you a way out
– reason. Why? Because HE loves you and wants the very best for
you, that’s why. No matter what you have done, no matter how awful
you have been, God still wants the best for you. There is hope and a
future ahead of you. A passage from the book of 1st
Corinthians comes to mind:
1
Corinthians 13 ( WEB )
[8]
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done
away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where
there is knowledge, it will be done away with. [9] For we know in
part, and we prophesy in part; [10] but when that which is complete
has come, then that which is partial will be done away with. [11]
When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I felt as a child, I thought
as a child. Now that I have become a man, I have put away childish
things. [12] For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to
face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was
also fully known. [13] But now faith, hope, and love remain—these
three. The greatest of these is love.
There
you have it, the answer to being wrong is being right (in the love of
God). And what do you do about it? Change of course. Paul writes to
the Colossians:
Colossians
3 ( WEB )
God.
[2] Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things
that are on the earth. [3] For you died, and your life is hidden with
Christ in God. [4] When Christ, our life, is revealed, then you will
also be revealed with him in glory.
[5] Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth:
sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and
covetousness, which is idolatry; [6] for which things’ sake the
wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. [7] You also once
walked in those, when you lived in them; [8] but now you also put
them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and shameful speaking
out of your mouth. [9] Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you
have put off the old man with his doings, [10] and have put on the
new man, who is being renewed in knowledge after the image of his
Creator, [11] where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and
uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ
is all, and in all.
[12] Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a
heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
[13] bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man
has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also
do. [14] Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of
perfection.
When
you are wrong, listen to God, change and you will be the better for
it.