Many of us remember that old War on Drugs commercial with the slogan, “Just say no.” It’s a simple yet profound statement. The word "no" is one of the most potent words in life. There’s an abundance of things in life we get to say yes to, but there are also critical things we must say no to. One of God's greatest gifts to us is the ability to choose between yes and no. The exercise of free will is a privilege that sets us apart from every other creature on earth.
The freedom to make choices is a blessing, but can also be a source of pain when those choices backfire. We’ve all experienced the sting of making bad decisions. Unfortunately, many people don’t understand God or His Word well enough to recognize that the mess in this world isn’t due to God’s mismanagement but the result of countless poor choices made by humanity. To even suggest otherwise is to misunderstand the nature of God and the freedom He has given us.
God gave us free will so that we could partner with Him to make our lives—and this world—a better place. When we witness the destruction caused by our decisions, it should prompt us to recognize our need for God and His ways. Walking in God’s ways brings civility, love, blessings, and peace not only to our lives, but that spills over to the world around us. Rejecting them leads to chaos and pain.
People often ask, “Why does God allow evil in the world?” but it’s not about God tolerating evil. God’s very nature is love, and true love allows freedom—the freedom to choose. Evil and suffering exist in the world because people consistently make bad choices. Those choices don’t just hurt the individual making them; they ripple out, affecting families, communities, nations—the entire world.
God’s Word challenges us to make better choices. In Ephesians 4:17, NLT the Apostle Paul says, "With the Lord’s authority I say this: live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused." In Deuteronomy 30:19 TLB God says, "I call heaven and earth to witness against you that today I have set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Oh, that you would choose life; that you and your children might live! (The word curse means doing something contrary to God's will that ends up hurting people—thus a curse.)
God exhorts us to make the right choices, but also exhorts us to say no to sinful things, resulting in harm to us and others. When the Bible speaks of Gentiles in this context, it refers to those who don’t know God’s ways. They live in confusion. As Christians, we are called to rise above ignorance. We are to learn what God declares is good and what is evil, and to practice saying yes to God's ways and no to the things that lead to sin and destruction.
Saying "No!" is a powerful and good thing. Saying "no" to the extra dessert when trying to lose weight or no to the temptation to flirt with someone who isn’t your spouse, or refusing the temptation to swear at your children because of their unruly behavior, or at the driver in the car that just cut you off, or to deceive someone to gain an advantage because you think you can get away with it, or to lie because it's convenient, or saying no to pornography, illegal drugs or explosive anger... saying "no" builds spiritual, mental, and emotional strength.
Strength comes through resistance. Just as lifting weights strengthens muscles, learning to say no strengthens our character and resolve. Each time we resist temptation, we grow stronger.
Some pastors shy away from talking about God’s “no’s” because they fear people will misunderstand Christianity as a list of rules. But every no from God carries a message of love. God’s instructions are like those of a loving parent. His yes’s and no’s are rooted in His desire to bless and protect us.
I gave my life to the Lord at 24, and I’ve been learning to live in His yes’s and no’s ever since. These choices aren’t about earning Heaven. Heaven is a gift of grace to everyone who receives Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. God’s yes’s and no’s shape the quality of our lives and the world around us. He called sin a curse. You can see the curse of sin in this world. What do you think pornography and sex trafficking are?
This world is filled with pain because too many people have failed to say no to selfishness, greed, lust, intoxication, and cruelty. God didn’t cause the pain. We did! That’s why it’s vital to build the spiritual muscle to say no to what we know is wrong. And the good news is that God promises strength to those who rely on Him. His power lives in us through the person of the Holy Spirit! That is why we can say and draw strength from the words, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13, NKJV)
To God, I say "yes." "Yes" to His help, His grace, and His ways. To temptation, I say, "No!" "No" to the things that violate His heart. Even to things that aren’t sinful but aren’t His best for me, I say "no". There’s joy in feeling His strength, helping me live in His yes's and no's.
Let’s habitually say yes to God and no to the world's temptations. It’s how we live the God-life and how we bring His love and blessings into a world desperately in need. Can you say, "Amen!"
As Proverbs reminds us: "My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity." (Proverbs 3:1-2, NIV)
Dear Lord, I know there are thoughts and behaviors I need to rid my life of. Please help me to draw strength from you to be the person of God you created me to be. Help me to pause at each one of these occasions, pray, and receive your help. In Jesus name I pray!
In His love,
Pastor Tim Burt
