As I approached the Yukon border, I noticed a bear hunkered down beside a highway sign. Slowing down in case he decided to run onto the road, I was amazed when he stood up on his hind legs and began waving at me with his left arm and paw. It was like he was trying to flag me down and hitch a ride to Whitehorse. His antics were so hilarious, I couldn't help but laugh. If I hadn't known better, I would have been tempted to stop and roll down my truck window to greet him, as he was a gorgeous, beautiful, blond grizzly with darker paws and lower legs, the first in that colour that I had ever seen. Fortunately, though, I did know better.

Knowing better about situations is important, especially in terms of knowing the difference between good and evil in this world. The book of Hebrews provides a solution to this dilemma:

Hebrews 5:13-14 – Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (NIV)

Being able to distinguish good from evil is a skill that comes through the constant use of righteousness, doing as God calls us to do through His Word, that we might be divinely and morally right. Constant use means just that. In a world that is teaching more and more that all religions are good, that there are many ways to heaven, and that everything anyone does is morally acceptable based on their own personal view, we must be diligent and not become lazy in regard to continuing to grow in Christ Jesus and the righteousness of His teachings. Being bombarded with material through books, the Internet, television, and movies, which constantly present immorality as normal and right, can have a very subtle effect upon our minds. I have discovered that when I hear or watch something often enough, my conscience and reactions can gradually become less and less offended and more and more accepting. I must therefore think not as merely human but as the kind of Christian that Paul encourages:

Romans 12:2 – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)

How about you? Do you know better when it comes to distinguishing good from evil? Are you continuing to develop your skill through the constant use of righteousness and the renewal of your mind? I hope so, as there are a lot of worldly grizzly bear situations out there just waiting for the unwary to come along and embrace them, and which never lead to a good end.

Prayer: Father God, thank You that through Christ Jesus, we have the daily opportunity to be renewing our minds, so that we are able to test and approve what Your good, pleasing, and perfect will is. Keep us diligent to the end in this matter, O Lord, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Lynne Phipps <lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com>
Tawatinaw, Alberta, Canada
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