Who Sets The Standard?

Well, here we go again with the argument of “...what will define ‘standard time’ across the nation and around the word in the future?” Give me daylight. I can’t work in the dark!


When Dick Fosbury was a sixteen-year-old high school student in Medford, Oregon, he wanted to be good at the high jump, a popular track and field event. Only one problem – Fosbury couldn’t jump over the five-foot bar; the basic qualifying height for most high school jumpers of his day. Fosbury was too tall to execute the “straddle” method, a technique that required the jumper to go over the bar face first while bring each leg over the bar individually. There was no rule regarding how a jumper could clear the bar; but he must initiate the jump by lifting off the ground with one foot only. Fosbury began experimenting with all sorts of techniques, finally perfecting a method that sent him over the bar backwards, bending his torso over the bar and then arching his legs in the shape of a rainbow so that his body would curl over the bar. The success of the technique was dramatic. He was the NCAA National Champion in the high jump in 1968. He then went on to win the Olympic Gold Medal in Mexico City that same year, clearing a height of seven feet, four inches. His technique, popularly known as the “Fosbury Flop” is the only method used by high jumpers today. Dick Fosbury found a way to meet the standard. At first, the standard seemed impossible. But he didn’t give up. He didn’t try to lower the standard so that he could achieve it. He simply used his talents to reach his goal.


[Isaiah 5:20-21] “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 clever in their own sight.” It seems since the beginning of time that people who turn from God are confused about the question of God’s standard for his created mankind. Man isn’t wise enough, and at times, honest enough, to discern between right and wrong or good and evil. Jeremiah wrote, “Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps” (Jeremiah 10:23). For all of his flaws, even Solomon knew he lacked the techniques and methods it would take to be the leader expected of him. Solomon petitioned God, “Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (2 Chronicles 1:10). Back to our scriptures from Isaiah; we are seeing in our society today where folks are defining true goodness as evil. Why? Because the moral standards of God contradict their lifestyles. Because God’s righteousness lived in the lives of some people convicts and “pricks” those who won’t submit to it. So, they redefine what is the true morality or standard. If one can have society accept that baby-killing (abortion); same-sex marriage (homosexuality); welfare and social programs (handouts for many who won’t work), etc. is fine, then morality has been redefined. When we turn from God, we will have chaos. Look at what atheism and evolution have done to our last several generations. It led to apathy and outright rebellion against God. It led to devaluation of human life (since we came from monkeys)! It led to many people questioning the Bible as the true word of God and thus, writing a new standard of humanistic morality. This has been going on for a long time, the rewriting of God’s word or morals. How do we combat this? Pray. Read God’s word and live by it. Let others see it in you. Let them see you living by the one standard, faithfully. Show them the benefits of everyone living by God’s standard. Try to show them the inconsistency and woeful methods found in man’s morality. That’s really all we can do and all that God expects.