The Breath of the Almighty

If you think the world has gone crazy or off the deep end, you are not alone. In their book, Future Shock, Alvin and Heidi Toffler described the effect of rapid change on the human psyche. Toffler proposed that an accelerated rate of technological and social change leaves people disconnected, stressed, and disoriented. But, is that the whole reason?

To be sure, many of us may not readily embrace new technologies easily, since we prefer the familiar. But, as it is said, “necessity is the mother of invention”—so people do adapt.

Yet there is more to society’s increased psychological discomfort than just the onslaught of technology. People’s feelings of disorientation and disconnect are growing more severe as society increases its distance from long-held bedrock principles of morality.

Insanity is sometimes defined as not knowing right from wrong. Yet, our society no longer relies on standards of right and wrong that were accepted for generations. And the greater the distance from those standards, the greater the loss of our sense of well-being.

Emotionally charged public forums abound with arguments philosophical, political, and religious, all weighing pros and cons as to what is the right course to take on any number of issues. So, how can we sort it all out?

We make determinations based on comparisons. We constantly evaluate possible choices against some type of standard or value. When we buy a pair of shoes, the standard becomes the size of our feet. When we seek to further our education, we select a class in line with our career objective. That career objective becomes the value.

Just as individuals have different objectives, so too do different groups. Therein lies the trouble. There are no widely recognized standards of conduct or values. Objectivity becomes a taboo, a thing of the past. Subjectivity—whatever seems right or expedient to the individual or group—becomes the standard.

This results in a great many people "doing what is right in their own eyes," while others reach the place where they are sure of nothing and believe in nothing. For them, the ends justify the means, and there is no sense of right or wrong—much less righteousness.

The prophets of old described a time when God’s principles of right living would be jettisoned, leading to a rise in poor judgment. Ancient King David wrote, “They do not know, nor do they understand; they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are unstable” (Psalm 82:5). There is no real understanding, even among many who should know better—and, as a consequence, society suffers. The words of Isaiah have come true: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!” (Isaiah 5:20–21).

Our society has departed from foundational values, which are universal in their application and effect, whether we acknowledge them or not. Those values are embodied in a spiritual law that God put in place for our benefit. Living within the structure of the Ten Commandments provides the consistency and uniformity necessary for stable communities and settled individuals.

Revealed by the God who knows the way to peace of mind, to psychological steadiness—He who is consistent and does not change—the Bible presents a way of life that leads to our being grounded and settled. The Bible was written by men, but under the inspiration of God. As the Apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

Job’s friend Elihu recognized that “there is a spirit in man, and the breath [inspiration] of the Almighty gives him understanding” (Job 32:8). If you want real understanding of what is going on now and where we are headed, you need to read the Book of books—the Bible!

And you can have every confidence in the inspiration of the Bible. Read the evidence in our informative booklet, The Bible, Fact or Fiction? You can read it online, download it, or request your own printed copy, absolutely free of charge!