256 shades of gray

November 22, 2006

By Randy Mantik

My computer program covers every nuance of color imaginable. Take gray for instance — there are 256 shades of that alone! Who knew gray could be such a complicated color? But then I thought, Isn’t that just like our world?

We have at least “256 shades of gray” for everything in our society and we’re making ample use of every one of them. We reason and justify our way out of (or into) anything. “It’s all relative,” we say. “There are no absolutes.”

The result of “no absolutes”? Fewer families with both a mom and a dad, fewer schools where kids can get through a day without fear of being shot, fewer protective boundaries in our culture’s code of conduct, fewer leaders who operate according to the clear moral foundation on which our nation was built. No, things are definitely not black and white anymore.

Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death” (NIV). People can delineate all sorts of reasons to make themselves feel good about their behavior. “Well, I know I’m bad, but I’m not as bad as ... ” Or, “I’m basically a good person.”

Evangelist Ray Comfort interviews people on the street, asking them how they think they can get to heaven. So often he hears, “You have to follow the Ten Commandments.” But when he lists the commandments, people quickly become uncomfortable.

There are no shades of gray. There is either black or white. You did it or you didn’t. You are either following God or you’re not. And you’re not going to heaven until you acknowledge your sinfulness and your need of a redeeming Savior.

Jesus said, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters” (Luke 11:23).

Yes, 256 shades of gray is a tempting array from which to choose. A person could pretty much get away with anything and not feel too bad about it. But that’s not the right way. Get back to black and white. Do what is right and leave the results to God.

I’ve seen God answer in amazing ways when I’ve trusted Him. He has never let me down and I have never regretted doing things His way because it always turns out to be the best way. I have found these words of Jesus to be faithful and true with not even a hint of gray about them: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33).

Randy Mantik is senior pastor of Crossroads Church of the Assemblies of God in Pembine, Wis.