Two Plus Two Equals Five

In those days, Israel had no king: all the people did what seemed right in their own eyes. Judges 21:25

The book of Judges is a book describing many sad days for Israel. Oh yes, there were good days, but more than once in Judges, we read, “all the people did what seemed right in their own eyes.” They had no compass, no true north; they just followed their gut feelings and did what seemed right to them. Of course, everyone had a different gut feeling. Two plus two is five, or six, or seven, right?

Unfortunately, it wasn’t as if this idea that “people did what seemed right in their own eyes” expired as the ink dried on the last verse of Judges. No, the concept of doing what seems right in our own eyes has lived on and is alive and well today. Doing what seems right in our own eyes is familiar to us all. It is human nature. It is what a broken creation does! I do it, and you do it too.

But just for a minute, back up and read the first part of Judges 21:25. It has an essential word of truth for us!

It says, “in those days Israel had no king.”

That was the problem; without a king, the only choice they had was to trust their own broken and flawed judgment.

But then came Jesus, born in a stable, living a perfect life and dying on a cross of excruciating pain, taking the world’s sin and weight upon himself. And three days later, Jesus was resurrected, and death was defeated forever in that very moment. This act of love made it possible for you and I to have hope, a hope so glorious and life-giving. A hope that that can change everything for us and in us.

When we make Jesus our King, when we ask him to live on the throne of our hearts, and the Holy Spirit takes up residence inside us, freeing us from the power of sin, then HOPE is alive within us and all of a sudden 2+2=4 again. We no longer have to do what seems right in our eyes. Now we can trust the One living inside us to be our true north, to be our compass!

I was seven years old when I decided to make Jesus king of my life. From that moment on, although I have disappointed him many times by doing what seemed right to me, I have had a forever-wonderful life-giving and forgiving relationship with God. Because of what Jesus did for me on that cross, I will never be subject to his condemnation- all is forgiven, and all is made right! (Romans 8:1)

Maybe you needed to hear this! Perhaps today, you are wondering what is the next step to take in your life. Maybe you are tired of doing what seems right in your own eyes only to find out the path you choose is a broken one, a dead end. Maybe you are tired of 2+2=5? If so, Romans 10:9-11 tells us, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”