Our world today assumes that it sets its own standards for correct living.
Well-meaning Christians are constantly making statements such as: “I just believe,” or “who am I to judge?” or “as long as no one get’s hurt” or “God loves us despite what we do.” We inadvertently set our own standard on what is right and wrong and, in the process, ensure that whatever behaviors we are exhibiting are conveniently placed in the “acceptable” category.
This is essentially what the ancient Israelites did when they built idols to worship. They crafted much more than a figure made of stone or precious metals. They also created the god’s value system. The gods that people created never condemned their immorality, in fact, they encouraged it. The false gods never rebuked them or challenged their hypocrisy. Values and standards were as fleeting as peoples’ moods.
Of course, when we set the standards for our behavior, we tend to find that our actions are always noble and good. After all, we know we meant well. We can minimize God’s word where it seems outdated or unreasonable and we can magnify biblical commandments that we feel we have mastered. Yet ultimately, we are not the ones who determine what God’s standards are. He does. God does not measure us by what we intended to do or what we believe are good behaviors to practice, but what we actually did. God has never delegated the supervision and amendments of His standards to anyone else. He certainly will not do so in your case.