“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
Proverbs 14:12
The use of human reason has been a problem since man was first created and given free will.
It was human reason that led Eve to take the first bite of forbidden fruit and Adam to choose to eat it; reasoning that maybe the serpent was telling the truth.
It was human reason that led Moses to kill the Egyptian, Saul to consult the witch of Endor, and Solomon to erect idolatrous shrines.
It was human reason that caused Judas to betray Jesus hoping He would defend Himself and establish a physical kingdom on earth, and Pilate to deliver Him up to be crucified by yielding to the demands of the mob, rather than risk losing his position.
You can imagine that Inspiration has much to say about the folly of using human reason that contradicts the specific commandments of our Creator, sometimes when commenting on the decisions I just referred to and sometimes in counsel to specific individuals in her day.
Regarding the first recorded exercise of human reason, Inspiration says the following:
“Eve really believed the words of Satan, but her belief did not save her from the penalty of sin. She disbelieved the words of God, and this was what led to her fall. In the judgment, men will not be condemned because they conscientiously believed a lie, but because they did not believe the truth, because they neglected the opportunity of learning what is truth. Notwithstanding the sophistry of Satan to the contrary, it is always disastrous to disobey God. We must set our hearts to know what is truth. All the lessons which God has caused to be placed on record in His word are for our warning and instruction. They are given to save us from deception. Their neglect will result in ruin to ourselves. Whatever contradicts God’s word, we may be sure proceeds from Satan.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 55
“Having herself transgressed, she [Eve] became the agent of Satan working the ruin of her husband. In a state of strange, unnatural excitement, with her hands filled with the forbidden fruit, she sought his presence, and related all that had occurred.
“An expression of sadness came over the face of Adam. He appeared astonished and alarmed. To the words of Eve he replied that this must be the foe against whom they had been warned; and by the divine sentence she must die. In answer she urged him to eat, repeating the words of the serpent, that they should not surely die. She reasoned that this must be true, for she felt no evidence of God’s displeasure, but on the contrary realized a delicious, exhilarating influence, thrilling every faculty with new life, such, she imagined, as inspired the heavenly messengers.
“Adam understood that his companion had transgressed the command of God, disregarded the only prohibition laid upon them as a test of their fidelity and love. There was a terrible struggle in his mind. He mourned that he had permitted Eve to wander from his side. But now the deed was done; he must be separated from her whose society had been his joy. … He resolved to share her fate; if she must die, he would die with her. After all, he reasoned, might not the words of the wise serpent be true?” Conflict and Courage, 16
Although Moses reasoned that he was doing what was best to free his people from Egyptian bondage when he killed the Egyptian, it took 40 years of tending sheep for him to learn to ignore human reason and rely solely on divine counsel.
“It was implicit faith in God that made Moses what he was. According to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did. All the learning of the wise men could not make Moses a channel through which the Lord could work, until he lost his self-confidence, realized his own helplessness, and put his trust in God; until he was willing to obey God’s commands, whether they seemed to his human reason to be right or not … .” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 408
Are we willing to do the same? Are we willing to obey God’s commands and the inspired counsel He has so lovingly provided us, whether they seem to our human reason to be right or not?
We’re familiar with the roller coaster obedience of Solomon. His apostasy is recorded this way:
“On the southern eminence of the Mount of Olives, opposite Mount Moriah, where stood the beautiful temple of Jehovah, Solomon erected an imposing pile of buildings to be used as idolatrous shrines. To please his wives, he placed huge idols, unshapely images of wood and stone, amidst the groves of myrtle and olive. There, before the altars of heathen deities, ‘Chemosh, the abomination of Moab,’ and ‘Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon,’ were practiced the most degrading rites of heathenism. 1 Kings 11:7
“Solomon’s course brought its sure penalty. His separation from God through communication with idolaters was his ruin. As he cast off his allegiance to God, he lost the mastery of himself. His moral efficiency was gone. His fine sensibilities became blunted, his conscience seared. He who in his early reign had displayed so much wisdom and sympathy in restoring a helpless babe to its unfortunate mother (see 1 Kings 3:16–28) fell so low as to consent to the erection of an idol to whom living children were offered as sacrifices. He who in his youth was endowed with discretion and understanding, and who in his strong manhood had been inspired to write, ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death’ (Proverbs 14:12), in later years departed so far from purity as to countenance licentious, revolting rites connected with the worship of Chemosh and Ashtoreth. He who at the dedication of the temple had said to his people, ‘Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God’ (1 Kings 8:61), became himself an offender, in heart and life denying his own words. He mistook license for liberty. He tried—but at what cost—to unite light with darkness, good with evil, purity with impurity, Christ with Belial.” Prophets and Kings, 57, 58
Yet another failure of human reason is recorded in the downfall of Saul. It was human reason that led him to consult the witch of Endor. After he had acted contrary to the instruction of Samuel, God stopped giving him instruction in his efforts to overcome the enemies of God’s people. Saul reasoned that since God no longer gave him guidance, he would seek out another source of help, even though it was expressly forbidden by God. As a consequence, Saul was rejected as the leader of God’s people.
It was human reason that led Pilate to consent to Jesus’ crucifixion by yielding to the enraged mob, rather than face the possibility of demotion.
“Pilate yielded to the demands of the mob. Rather than risk losing his position, he delivered Jesus up to be crucified. But in spite of his precautions, the very thing he dreaded afterward came upon him. His honors were stripped from him, he was cast down from his high office, and, stung by remorse and wounded pride, not long after the crucifixion he ended his own life. So, all who compromise with sin will gain only sorrow and ruin. ‘There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.’ ” The Desire of Ages, 738
The fifth chapter of Isaiah gives us a record of the results of following human reason that is contrary to the word of God. Inspiration comments on a portion of that chapter.
“God has pronounced a curse upon those who depart from His commandments, and put no difference between common and holy things. He declares by the prophet: ‘Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness! … Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! … which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! … They have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.’ Isaiah 5:20–24. Let no one deceive himself with the belief that a part of God’s commandments are nonessential, or that He will accept a substitute for that which He has required. Said the prophet Jeremiah, ‘Who is he that saith, and it cometh to pass, when the Lord commandeth it not?’ Lamentations 3:37. God has placed in His word no command which men may obey or disobey at will and not suffer the consequences. If [through the use of human reason] men choose any other path than that of strict obedience, they will find that ‘the end thereof are the ways of death.’ Proverbs 14:12.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 360, 361
In deciding upon any course of action, we are not to reason whether or not harm will result from it, but whether it is in keeping with the will of God.
In a letter written to a young man who was acting contrary to the word of God, Mrs. White gave him this advice, “Your will and your way seem right to you. But unless you see the defects in your character and wash your robe and make it white in the blood of the Lamb, you will surely fail of everlasting life.” Mind, Character, and Personality, Vol. 2, 381
That same counsel is still valid. Although we can reason that our actions are right, unless we weigh those actions against the word of God to determine their compliance with it, we are in danger of acting contrary to God’s will.
One of the most common errors in the use of human reason lies in surrendering reason which should be guided by God’s word to those we may deem worthy of consideration.
“Notwithstanding the Bible is full of warnings against false teachers, many are ready thus to commit the keeping of their souls to the clergy. There are today thousands of professors of religion who can give no other reason for points of faith which they hold than that they were so instructed by their religious leaders. They pass by the Saviour’s teachings almost unnoticed, and place implicit confidence in the words of the ministers. But are ministers infallible? How can we trust our souls to their guidance unless we know from God’s word that they are light bearers? A lack of moral courage to step aside from the beaten track of the world [or to put it another way, to leave the broad road and walk the narrow way] leads many to follow in the steps of learned men; and by their reluctance to investigate for themselves, they are becoming hopelessly fastened in the chains of error. They see that the truth for this time is plainly brought to view in the Bible; and they feel the power of the Holy Spirit attending its proclamation; yet they allow the opposition of the clergy to turn them from the light. Though reason and conscience are convinced, these deluded souls dare not think differently from the minister; and their individual judgment, their eternal interests, are sacrificed to the unbelief, the pride and prejudice, of another.” The Great Controversy, 596, 597
In discussing the apostasy of the followers of Nimrod and their experience in attempting to build the famed Tower of Babel, Inspiration states the following:
“The schemes of the Babel builders ended in shame and defeat. The monument to their pride became the memorial of their folly. Yet men are continually pursuing the same course—depending upon self, and rejecting God’s law. It is the principle that Satan tried to carry out in heaven; the same that governed Cain in presenting his offering.
“There are tower builders in our time. Infidels construct their theories from the supposed deductions of sciences, and reject the revealed word of God. They presume to pass sentence upon God’s moral government; they despise His law and boast of the sufficiency of human reason.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 123
Inspiration provides another word of caution against using human reason unguided by the word of God.
“The apostasy prevailing today is similar to that which in the prophet’s day overspread Israel. In the exaltation of the human above the divine, in the praise of popular leaders, in the worship of mammon, and in the placing of the teachings of science above the truths of revelation, multitudes today are following after Baal. Doubt and unbelief are exercising their baleful influence over mind and heart, and many are substituting for the oracles of God the theories of men. It is publicly taught that we have reached a time when human reason should be exalted above the teachings of the word.” Prophets and Kings, 170
Although the use of human reason does not always lead to failure, when we surrender our reason to the majesty of divine revelation, we can be assured that our actions will meet with divine approval.
“The Bible unfolds truth with a simplicity and a perfect adaptation to the needs and longings of the human heart that has astonished and charmed the most highly cultivated minds, while it enables the humblest and uncultured to discern the way of salvation. And yet these simply stated truths lay hold upon subjects so elevated, so far-reaching, so infinitely beyond the power of human comprehension, that we can accept them only because God has declared them. Thus, the plan of redemption is laid open to us, so that every soul may see the steps he is to take in repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ, in order to be saved in God’s appointed way; yet beneath these truths, so easily understood, lie mysteries that are the hiding of His glory—mysteries that overpower the mind in its research, yet inspire the sincere seeker for truth with reverence and faith. The more he searches the Bible, the deeper is his conviction that it is the Word of the living God, and human reason bows before the majesty of divine revelation.” Steps to Christ, 107, 108
May such be the case with each of us.
John R. Pearson is the office manager and a Steps to Life board member. He can be reached by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.