By Warren B. Smith
(author of A “Wonderful” Deception and False Christ Coming: Does Anybody Care?“)
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” —Isaiah 5:20
In the first book of Kings, God comes to Solomon in a dream and tells him he can ask for anything that he wants:
“In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.” —1 Kings 3:5
Solomon asks for discernment: He wants to be able to discern the difference between what is good and bad—between good and evil. He answers God:
“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” —1 Kings 3:9
God is pleased with Solomon’s request, noting that he asked solely for discernment rather than selfish things for himself:
“And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;” —1 Kings 3:10-11
While our Adversary furiously attempts to undermine the importance of discernment by ridiculing it, we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Corinthians 2:11).
SOME OF THE MANY ACCUSATIONS MADE BY DISCERNMENT DETRACTORS
1) If you hate deception and evil and try to expose it, you are a hater—but the Bible says:
“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil:” —Proverbs 8:13
“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [expose] them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved [exposed] are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” —Ephesians 5:11-13
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” —John 15:18 Click here to continue reading this article.
