Life Is Not a Stage

(Proverbs 21:27 KJV)  The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

One of the hard realities for cultural Christians to accept is that living a moral and upright life in public does not by itself make you pleasing to God.  Here we have an example of this misunderstanding.  It would seem that it is possible for a “wicked” (7563) person to do something that would be classified as a “sacrifice” (2077) and do it with the right intention.  This could be anything from mowing their lawn to risking their life.  They can do it for the best of intentions.  It is still labeled an “abomination” (8441).  Why?

It is an abomination because it is done as a substitute for being submissive to the will of God.  It is unacceptable because it tries to substitute good works for a right heart.  It takes a requirement and perverts it by giving it priority over an even greater requirement.  It is not enough to do good things, make sacrifices.  They are required but they are only acceptable from a regenerate heart.

So?  God is not interested in plays and novels.  He is interested in real lives.  He demands that we get our hearts right with Him.  Until that happens you are on a stage with toy swords and borrowed words.