There was hardly a man in American politics so often mentioned as a possible President, so often nominated or proposed for nomination, as Henry Clay. Yet, always, some ill chance of fortune, some sudden change in political strategy, unfailingly intervened to snatch away the great reward that he so deeply craved and so well deserved. Why he never became President is hard to discover; his foes say one thing, his admirers another. Perhaps he had been too much in politics, had fought too many battles. For from the time he was twenty-two till the day he died, at the age of seventy-five, Henry Clay was in the thick of every national fight. For more than fifty years his matchless voice rose in every debate; thousands listened to his words as to an oracle. Sometimes he was on one side, sometimes the other. Always he sought harmony and strove to preserve peace and union between the states. When, in 1850, the tension over the Slavery question became dangerous, the old Clay, seventy-three years bowing his tall form, came back to the Senate and fought his last and greatest battle. There, for the last time, sat two other grizzled veterans. Calhoun, with but a few months to live, and the thunderous Daniel Webster. When the echoes of the final debates of our three political giants rolled away, Clay had once more preserved internal peace, once more had effected a compromise. His enemies say that Henry Clay never became Chief Executive because he played politics, straddled questions, changed sides too often. His admirers say it was because he pursued the truth wherever it lay, always and no matter what the cost, regardless even of party lines and policies. In 1850, during his Senate speech, Henry Clay was quoted as saying, "I would rather be right than President."
What a great testimony to bear, amen? I hope you enjoyed reading that historical little tidbit as much as I did when I came across it. But more than just enjoying it, I want you to think for a moment about something in your own life. Is there anything you'd rather be, more than being right? If you were to fill in the blank below, what would you put there?
I would rather be ________________ than right.
Would you rather be "accepted" than right? Would you rather be "rich" than right? Would you rather be "happy" than right? Would you rather be "popular" than right? Choosing and doing right costs us something, doesn't it? I am sure Henry Clay wanted to become President. But his desire to stand for that which was right cost him that Presidency; it cost him something that was dear and important to him. Are you as willing to pay the price to uphold things that are right? I think you would all agree that we belong to a stubborn, sinful generation. Oh, we KNOW what’s right, but we persist in doing what’s wrong - so much so that we have convinced ourselves we are right while carrying the thing out! Hence, we are partial in our judgment of ourselves…
Proverbs 21:2 (KJV)
Every way of man is RIGHT in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the
hearts.
Proverbs 16:25 (KJV)
There is a way which seemeth RIGHT unto a man, but the end thereof are
the ways of death.
Yes, we are experts in the justification of our personal actions. Ladies, self-delusion is real and it is dangerous! In fact, the Bible warns us against it because self-chosen ways can only end in death, even though they seem right. When infected with self-righteousness, we become masters at convincing ourselves that we are not in the wrong - but according to whose standards?? How then can we really know what is right - especially when we don’t endeavor to verify whether or not our actions are acceptable to our Maker?
Psalm 33:4 (KJV)
For the word of the Lord is RIGHT; and all his works are done in truth.
Deuteronomy 32:4 (KJV)
He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a
God of truth and without iniquity, just and RIGHT is he.
There are no hidden shams in the Bible; God’s Word alone reveals to us what is right! When people do not carefully observe the distinction between good and evil as God alone declares it, destruction soon follows in individual lives, in families, and in society. It is common for people (even God's people!) to say today, “No one can decide for anyone else what is really right or wrong”, but that is a bunch of bologna! Only those who are bent on ignoring God's Word would make such a foolish comment…
Hosea 14:9 (KJV)
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall
know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk
in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
For example, transgressors (persons who quarrel with the Bible) think getting drunk can’t really hurt them or other people. They also consider sex outside of marriage as acceptable and even premarital sex is all right with them. The view that homosexuality is simply a matter of personal preference is also another popular opinion. Scores of transgressors even regard abortion as a choice and not the murderous act it really is. And a vast quantity would claim that money doesn’t have control of them yet they are serious debtors to this world. The list of wrong standards held by men and women is endless… Yes, society calls those of us that would oppose vain thinking and uphold right living “evil doers”. Can you imagine such warped thinking being so prominent as it is today? Yet when man puts God's Word aside, what can you expect? It is then that people begin to make excuses for their actions, and break down the distinction between right and wrong. Ladies, if we do not take God’s Word as our standard for right, soon all moral choices will appear fuzzy! Without God, we are headed straight for wrong living and many troubles…
Isaiah 5:20 (KJV)
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for
light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for
bitter!
When we call evil good and good evil, or call right wrong and wrong right, we are putting darkness where light belongs and a bitter label on that which should be considered sweet. Our sin has confused the right and wrong so they cannot be distinguished. Consequently, we have become deceived by the devil and therefore deceitful in the way we live because an ungoverned conscience cannot be trusted! We are no longer friends of God, but have now become enemies of righteousness as we follow the counsel of the enemy in obeying our fleshly desires. We pervert and distort the right ways of the Lord in order to satisfy our own whims and wishes! God help us if we as His children are responsible for perverting our heavenly Father's standards by selfishly choosing our own! We've got the wrong spirit controlling us…
Psalm 51:10 (KJV)
Create in me a clean heart O God; and renew a RIGHT spirit within me.
"Well, what about just doing right some of the time, isn't this better than nothing?" Ladies, God is not content with our just doing what is right some of the time - He wants us to do what is right all the time! We are under our heavenly Father’s orders to eliminate any thoughts, practices, or possessions that hinder our devotion to Him. The Lord has given us godly standards in His Word that we are to follow. He has not left our conduct up to our personal opinions. We can and should avoid conforming to society’s low standards by taking God’s commands seriously, applying them to life, and doing right! Have you come to that place in your heart where you have accepted God's Word as the only standard for what is right? Or are your personal opinions still in the way? Perhaps even the most popular opinions of society are hard for you to release? Maybe you feel that you would rather be in the majority than in the right alone… Whatever the case may be, you will never know what is right, let alone care to do what is right until you come under the authority of God's Word completely! Yes, you must toss out all those feelings and opinions that have come between you and the Lord. It's time for you to make the right choice…
Psalm 19:8 (KJV)
The statutes of the Lord are RIGHT, rejoicing the heart...
Our hearts can only rejoice by following after what God's Word says is right. It's a different kind of rejoicing than when we have chosen the pleasures of sin for a season. It's joy of a permanent nature, not temporary like the world offers. It is an artificial satisfaction we experience when choosing our own selfish ways, for after the pleasure of sin conviction and grief sets in… By doing right we purify our hearts and keep them free from the weight of transgression and the anguish that darkens our soul when we have made wrong choices. Is your heart rejoicing today, dear lady? If not, you've got no one to blame but yourself! You need to do right in order to rejoice. Even a child knows this much and is easily detected when guilty of evil…
Proverbs 20:11 (KJV)
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether
it be RIGHT.
In conclusion, the hearts of adults and children alike are openly revealed for all to see by simply observing their words and deeds. I hope yours can be viewed as pure and right! May those who are watching our lives observe us observing what the Word of God says is acceptable! And may it be our greatest desire to do right…
From the very start, have purpose in your heart
To do what's right and never question why.
Never count the cost, though everything seems lost;
The price for doing right is sometimes high.
Right is always right, and wrong is always wrong,
And we must learn to separate the two!
If you love the right, the Lord will give you light;
So seek the right in everything you do!
Do right till the stars fall, do right till the last call
Do right when there's no one else to stand by you!
Do right when you're all alone, do right though it's never known.
Do right since you love the Lord - do right, do right!
(words to a song from Patch the Pirate)
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2000 Pamela A. Iannello
Revised 2004
