Grey Areas

When you think of the colour grey, you think of something that is blurry or unclear. Grey is often associated with depressing situations. A ‘grey day’ is considered a day that is dull and cloudy. It would not be a day that you would want to go out on a picnic. When we talk about ‘grey areas’ in any situation, what we mean is that there is no definite answer or solution. It is neither yes, nor no. The solution is unclear.

Are there any grey areas with God? Some Christians like to think so. The vast majority of Christianity consider the requirements of God in such a manner. There is no definite creed or outline that must be followed. There is a variety of standards in the Christian world to suit different lifestyles, but all seemingly considered acceptable forms of worship to God, that will eventually result in eternal life.

For a person coming out of heathen religions it can be quite confusing. In their pagan cultures, there are such exact and specific requirements that they rigorously followed so that when they look into Christianity, they see only confusion. They see such a variety of standards in the different Christian organizations that they don’t know which way to turn. Is this really better than their pagan religion where everything was so clear? It was all black and white?

No, this is not what God and true religion are all about. With God there are absolutely no grey areas – it is all black and white.

He tells us, “let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.” James 5:12.

Is it possible for us to attempt to make grey areas even in God’s church? Yes it is very possible, especially in those areas of personal religion such as dress and health. We can easily be tempted to state that some of these areas are grey areas and therefore a variety of standards is acceptable according to one’s experience with the Lord. Paul says, “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Romans 14:5. With this verse some have stated that they do not need to be so strict as they see others in other churches, since they are not fully persuaded in that direction yet. Therefore they can live in the grey areas for now – until God reveals to them that they need to get out of the grey area and He points them the way.

While we understand that new believers coming to church have been in the grey areas for many years (due to the fact that the majority of Christianity is there today and we are tolerant with them) encouraging them to come up to a higher standard, however, there is no excuse for members who have been in the church for many years to still be living in the grey areas. We must be living in the full light of the truth. There is no variety of standards. God has one high standard that must be upheld in every area of life in order for salvation to be obtained. There are absolutely no grey areas with God. If you are unsure of something, it will take much prayer and study to find out what God really wants from you.
“Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” Romans 6:16

You are either on one side or the other – either in darkness or light – there is no middle ground – no grey areas.

“He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.” Matthew 12:30.
The Laodicean message is a message concerning professed Christians who are living in the grey areas.
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15,16.

There is no definition in the Christian lives of these people.
When God says something He means it. He keeps His promises. There are no grey areas in His Word.
He says, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” Deut. 30:19.

Either we are in the black or in the white – on God’s side or on Satan’s side. God has promised us blessings if we obey, and cursing if we disobey – and He means what He says. When He says He will do something, there is no question about it. When He says He will never do something, you can expect that it will never happen.

I want to mention a few things now that God has promised He will do and then some things that will never happen.
The word ‘always’ means that there is no chance that it will not happen. It is guaranteed and God gives us plenty of guarantees in the Bible. His yes, means yes and His no means no.

THOUGHTS

We are encouraged by Paul to “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thess. 5:17. How many of us can honestly say we do this? We have heard it mentioned many times in sermons and studies, but putting it into practice is not easy. During our every day lives, sometimes we get so busy with the cares of this life that they completely consume all our thoughts and actions. How often have we arrived at the end of the day disappointed because we did not fully serve the Lord to the best of our ability as we should have.

I am sure also that at one time or another our mind wandered to other subjects during a sermon or Bible study and we lost some of the blessing that God intended for us to receive. Controlling our thoughts is one of the most difficult tasks to perform. While we may appear to be agreeable on the outside we may have rebellion in our minds.

Sometimes there is a strong desire to control one’s thoughts but the mind is so weak. God has promised to be our help in every time of need. He gave us some advice to help us. He said, “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3. This Bible verse says nothing about trying hard to control our thoughts. The Lord has promised that if we commit our works to Him then our thoughts will be established. How can this be?

How can our thoughts be controlled by committing our works unto the Lord? For anyone who has ventured to do something for the Lord that seemed daunting to their human nature, they realized their human weakness and clung to the Lord for help beyond their human resources. Imagine Jonah going to the wicked, heathen city of Nineveh. It was such a daunting task for him that he even fled from the Lord and went in the opposite direction. When he was finally re-directed by the Lord I am sure he went with much prayer in his heart to do the Lord’s will. Also Elijah on Mt. Carmel, I am sure as he went to do the Lord’s work on this occasion his prayers were constantly ascending to the heavenly courts for the Lord’s guidance and protection. Then there was Martin Luther when called before the great men of this earth. I am sure his thoughts were fully established on the Lord.

Perhaps it is not such a public duty that the Lord requires of us, but the simple, quiet, one-on-one witnessing such as canvassing, Bible Study, or simply witnessing to a fellow student or fellow worker. Even in such cases, when a person commits himself to doing the work of the Lord, the thoughts automatically go to the Lord for help. Our thoughts will be established. It does not say, ‘maybe’ but it is a guarantee.

‘WILL’ OR ‘SHALL’ MEAN ‘ALWAYS’

How easy is the Christian walk? How hard? It all depends if you are trying to walk alone or with Christ. Some make Christianity appear too difficult and they give up. While we can’t drift into heaven and we all have a cross to bear that looks heavy, if we connect ourselves with Jesus, we will not fail. He has promised to be with us and help us with our struggles against self and sin. Those that are failures in the Christian life are those that attempted to go on alone. They haven’t taken Jesus up on His promise.

Many promises made on this earth are readily broken. Marriage vows have almost become meaningless as so many divorces are occurring. To say you will do something ‘always’ means never to stop. However this word is often misused. It is used to make a promise to someone, hoping for some favour and when that favour is received, it has happened that the promise of ‘always’ is broken. But God does not break His promises and nor does He expect us to break our promises to Him. He Has promised to be there for us always. “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20. He will never leave us, although sometimes we have left Him and gone into the grey areas or into darkness.

“Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5. This is a promise for us. We can, and will, overcome if we commit our ways to the Lord. There is no grey areas of ‘maybe’ we will overcome. We need to trust and believe that God will bring it to pass.

“Through faith in Christ, every deficiency of character may be supplied, every defilement cleansed, every fault corrected, every excellence developed.” Ed 257. Again, we can overcome. There is no need to remain in any grey areas. The grey areas in Christianity say that it is an impossibility to ever become sinless so don’t bother trying. So most don’t try, but this is not what the Bible says. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” 1 John 3:8,9. There are no grey areas mentioned here.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17,18. All who come to Christ will be accepted. There is no question about it. Salvation is offered to everyone. There is no mention of penance or large offerings required before the Lord sits down and considers whether He should accept us or not. All He asks is for us to repent and separate ourselves from sin. Come out of the grey areas and into the full light.

“Rejoice evermore.” 1 Thess: 5:16. This means always. Who can rejoice in the midst of tragedy? “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thess. 5:18. Who can give even thanks as well as rejoice in the midst of difficulty and tragedy? It can be done by the person who is connected with Christ. In everything they can see God’s ultimate purpose being worked out. They see and understand that nothing happens by accident on this earth. Yes, tragedies often come, according to God’s permissive will, however as we understand that God is in ultimate control, we can rejoice as we see the Great Controversy coming to a close. All that is happening on this earth is for the fulfilling of God’s purpose in our lives. Therefore we can rejoice – always. Not just sometimes, when life goes along smoothly.

“Nothing tends more to promote health of body and of soul than does a spirit of gratitude and praise. It is a positive duty to resist melancholy, discontented thoughts and feelings–as much a duty as it is to pray. If we are heaven-bound, how can we go as a band of mourners, groaning and complaining all along the way to our Father’s house?” MH 251
“Those professed Christians who are constantly complaining, and who seem to think cheerfulness and happiness a sin, have not genuine religion. Those who take a mournful pleasure in all that is melancholy in the natural world, who choose to look upon dead leaves rather than to gather the beautiful living flowers, who see no beauty in grand mountain heights and in valleys clothed with living green, who close their senses to the joyful voice which speaks to them in nature, and which is sweet and musical to the listening ear–these are not in Christ. They are gathering to themselves gloom and darkness, when they might have brightness, even the Sun of Righteousness arising in their hearts with healing in His beams.” MH 251.

There is bright sunshine in the lives of all true Christians. No greyness or melancholy.

“While the Christian’s life will be characterized by humility, it should not be marked with sadness and self-depreciation. It is the privilege of everyone so to live that God will approve and bless him. It is not the will of our heavenly Father that we should be ever under condemnation and darkness. There is no evidence of true humility in going with the head bowed down and the heart filled with thoughts of self. We may go to Jesus and be cleansed, and stand before the law without shame and remorse. ‘There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’ Romans 8:1.” GC 477

“As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” 2 Cor. 6:10. In Christ we can be the happiest people on this earth even though we go through difficulties and trials.

NEVER

The word ‘never’ is also often misused. People get angry and without thinking utter words that they regret later. The word ‘never’ is used more often than it should be. ‘I will never forgive you.’ ‘I will never do anything for you.’ Later the words are regretted and they are taken back. It is a dangerous word to use. Never means it will not happen ever. When people use never in the wrong manner, they are in darkness. But if we decide that we will never follow the world, it is then used in a positive sense. Never can either mean darkness or light in the Bible – it has nothing to do with grey.
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22. The promise is that if we commit our ways to the Lord, we will never be moved. That means not ever. So those who say they simply cannot overcome – who are so spiritually weak, that overcoming sin is an impossibility – they have not cast their burdens on the Lord because He promised that they would never be moved. Do we believe God’s promise? He tells us He will keep us from the grey areas and darkness if we cast our burdens on Him.

“Trusting in the blessing of God, the Christian is safe anywhere. In the city he will not be corrupted. In the counting room he will be marked for his habits of strict integrity. In the mechanic’s shop every portion of his work will be done with fidelity, with an eye single to the glory of God. When this course is pursued by its individual members, a church will be successful.” 4T 285

“In the humble round of toil, the very weakest, the most obscure, may be workers together with God and may have the comfort of His presence and sustaining grace. They are not to weary themselves with busy anxieties and needless cares. Let them work on from day to day, accomplishing faithfully the task that God’s providence assigns, and He will care for them. He says: ‘Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.’ Phil. 4:6. ” MH 199

What does Paul mean in the previously mentioned verse? Be careful for nothing? In Greek, careful means anxious. It means to worry. There is nothing we should worry about. If we are connected to Christ we will not worry. We will see that God is in ultimate control and we trust Him to take care of us.

“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” 2 Peter 1:10. This Bible verse follows the verses concerning the climbing of Peter’s Ladder. If we climb Peter’s Ladder we are promised that we will never fall. We will live in the full light of the gospel truth. We will not remain in the grey areas. We will rise higher and higher, past the grey storm clouds of this earth. But we must climb, higher and yet higher. Away from the darkness and the grey- into the full sunshine of the Love of Christ. And it is now that we have to commence and continue climbing.

“Now is the time to lay up treasure in heaven and to set our hearts in order, ready for the time of trouble. Those only who have clean hands and pure hearts will stand in that trying time. Now is the time for the law of God to be in our minds, foreheads, and written in our hearts.” EW 57

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” Hebrews 13:5. Here are a few more counsels that we have to follow if we want God to fulfil His side of the bargain. Our conversation is here mentioned. We must guard our conversation. Either it is of heavenly origin or of the devil. There is no grey areas in conversation. Also we are encouraged to be content with what we have, rather than coveting for more. If we follow these simple counsels, the Lord has promised that He will never leave us.

There is something that will never fail and that something is love or charity. “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:8. Try showing charity in the face of an angry, upset or disturbed or discouraged person and you will not fail in reaping good results.

One of the greatest promises in the Bible is the promise of eternal life. It is dependant on our accepting Jesus into our lives and believing in His power to save us and to change our vile hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” John 11:26

This next Bible verse describes the majority of Religious teachers on earth today. They claim such superior knowledge of the Word of God, yet they are far from the truth. They refuse to come out of the grey areas. Christianity is made to appear so mysterious. There is no solution or set pathway to follow. They claim that there are many different roads to heaven. They are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:7. This ‘never’ is a large one. They keep studying their Bibles however they never seem to come to the truth. Could this be possible in God’s church? Yes it could be. There will always be some who very studiously state that the standard is not so black and white as some say it is. They say that some are far stricter than is necessary for salvation. Try telling that to God.
“There is danger of even ministers in New York being of that class who are ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. They do not practice what they learn. They are hearers, but not doers. These ministers need an experience in the truth that will enable them to comprehend the elevated character of the work.” 3T 53

“But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:” Mark 3:29. Imagine the thought that you will never be forgiven. What a dreadful thought, yet some have gone so far as to blaspheme the Holy Ghost and therefore they will never be forgiven. When God says never, He means never. There is no ‘maybe’ about it – no grey areas. It is all black.

“Many have a name to live while they have become spiritually dead. These will one day say: ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.’ Woe will be pronounced against thee, if thou loiter and linger until the Sun of Righteousness shall set; the blackness of eternal night will be thy portion. Oh, that the cold, formal, worldly heart may be melted! Christ shed not only tears for us, but His own blood. Will not these manifestations of His love arouse us to deep humiliation before God? It is humility and self-abasement that we need, to be approved of God.” 5T 73

“A mere profession of discipleship is of no value. The faith in Christ which saves the soul is not what it is represented to be by many. ‘Believe, believe,’ they say, ‘and you need not keep the law.’ But a belief that does not lead to obedience is presumption. The apostle John says, ‘He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.’ 1 John 2:4. Let none cherish the idea that special providences or miraculous manifestations are to be the proof of the genuineness of their work or of the ideas they advocate. When persons will speak lightly of the word of God, and set their impressions, feelings, and exercises above the divine standard, we may know that they have no light in them.” MB 146. The law must be kept. God’s requirements are clear as the day. There are no grey areas involved.

“And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.” Judges 2:1. God keeps all His promises forever. If we feel that we are far from God, it is we who have separated ourselves from God by sin.

“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.” Psalm 15. What a wonderful promise – we will never be moved.

Even though Jesus has promised to be with us always, this does not mean that life will always be easy. “Christ did not tell His disciples that their work would be easy. He showed them the vast confederacy of evil arrayed against them. They would have to fight “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. But they would not be left to fight alone. He assured them that He would be with them; and that if they would go forth in faith, they should move under the shield of Omnipotence. He bade them be brave and strong; for One mightier than angels would be in their ranks–the General of the armies of heaven. He made full provision for the prosecution of their work and took upon Himself the responsibility of its success. So long as they obeyed His word, and worked in connection with Him, they could not fail. Go to all nations, He bade them. Go to the farthest part of the habitable globe and be assured that My presence will be with you even there. Labor in faith and confidence; for the time will never come when I will forsake you. I will be with you always, helping you to perform your duty, guiding, comforting, sanctifying, sustaining you, giving you success in speaking words that shall draw the attention of others to heaven.” AA 29

Let’s get out of the grey areas in our spiritual life if we are finding our selves there and get into the light, the full light of God’s presence. When God says, always, He means always. When He says never, He means never. While there is sure punishment for the wicked, there is an assured promise of eternal life for the repentant sinner who has come out of the grey areas into the light.

Jesus is coming soon and if we find ourselves lingering in the grey areas, it is time to make a move and get out before it is forever too late.
AMEN

Wendy Eaton, Australia