From the Home Place

September 23, 2025

May I encourage you to grab your Bible and read Isaiah 5, then read this post.

The “woes” of Chapter 5 seem to culminate in Chapter 6, Verse 5 when Isaiah declared, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips.” Jesus would have said that it isn’t what we put into our mouth that defiles us, it’s what comes out of our mouth that defiles us! Why, because that which comes out of the mouth is that which is within the heart. (Mark 7:20-23)

All of my life, all of your life, we have been surrounded by the defilement of evil. It would appear that for many, those years of living in an evil environment has developed a culture of evil people. Many of us have experienced the evil tongue of the internet. I absolutely believe in everyone’s freedom of speech as granted by the Constitution, as Americans. However, we should realize that speaking evil comes under the jurisdiction of God’s judgment, and not man’s laws.

Isaiah Chapter 5 clearly teaches that God will judge a nation that calls “evil good.” Verse 5, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;” read the whole Chapter, it appears that when God spoke to Isreal, He was also speaking to modern America! I am of the opinion that God does not realize that our Constitution overrules His Word! Perhaps, we should realize that our Constitution does not overrule God’s Word.

For all Christ-followers, evil is evil according to God’s word, not man’s opinion. Just as “good works” mentioned within the Bible are those works that are good according to God’s standard. Evil is also defined by God, not man. You see, our standard is totally skewed. We Americans tend to think that good is that which “I” say or do, and evil is the negative which is spoken about, or done to “me.” And once again, I admit, “I am a man of unclean lips.” Gossip and slander so easily roll off of our lips in conversation and on the internet.

Please hear me, I fully realize that in writing this, I’m standing on the edge of a cliff. I am not pointing a finger at any person other than myself. My desire here is to draw attention to what God’s Word says will happen to an evil nation. If you are wondering what God considers to be evil, Colossians 3:8-9 gives us a partial list: “But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.”

Isaiah 6:5 concludes, “For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Colossians 3:10 concludes, “and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.” Being in God’s presence changes a person.

As Christians living in America, I would suggest that the light of Jesus Christ shines brighter now than ever before! A light that will “overpower” evil if we Christians live the light!

Standing against evil and for good with you, Neal