“Everyone has an opinion about something,” is a familiar saying. It also seems to reflect how we as a society feel. You can’t escape public opinion polls, whether you watch television, listen to the radio, or read the paper. If you use the Internet, there are services that constantly bombard your email account, asking your opinion on this issue or that product. Even politicians are influenced by the opinions of others, and policy is often determined by what those opinions are.
Opinion, however, shouldn’t be equated with truth. In our pluralistic society, many, in favor of tolerance, have rejected objective truth. Everyone’s opinion is to have equal weight and validity. While there are times when one’s opinion should be considered in making decisions, there are times when they must not. The truth of Scripture, for example, will remain true, no matter what popular opinion may be. The religious world, by and large, has rejected the teaching of Scripture about baptism for the forgiveness of sin (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 1 Peter 3:21). This doesn’t change the will of God. Others claim it doesn’t matter what type of music we use in worshipping God, while Scripture only speaks of singing (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Many reject the reality of eternal punishment for the wicked, even though Jesus spoke clearly about it (John 3:36; Matthew 25:46).
What do we do with Scripture? We can ignore it on these and other issues, or even reject it, but that doesn’t change what God has revealed. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion” we hear, but our opinions must conform to the word of God, if we hope for eternal life. "He who rejects Me and does not receive My words, has that which judges him - the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matthew 7:21). Of course, putting aside our personal opinions to allow God’s will its place in our lives is the greatest expression of love. “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
Opinions, by definition, often are not based on absolute certainty or positive knowledge, but what seems probable to one’s own mind. We don’t always have all the facts, but God does, and He reveals His complete and perfect will to us in His word. When I yield my opinion to His will, I reflect Him at work in me (Galatians 2:20). We can speak and live confidently about today and eternity, not because it’s our opinion, but because we have the authority of God in His word to guide us. In the final analysis, His will, not my opinion, is what will matter.
Robert Johnson
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