THE UNEXAMINED LIFE

“The unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates

“Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭26:2‬, ‭NKJV‬‬)

Examination, whether self-imposed or conducted on us is a reality of life. Scrutiny goes on all the time consciously or unconsciously. Whether we are in the grocery store or at school or in the mechanic's workshop, the reality is simply that some sort of scrutiny/examination is in operation. Performances at work or elsewhere are evaluated; spoken and written words and sentences are tested for coherence; driving licences are obtained after driving tests; degrees are conferred after academic tests and evaluations; vehicles are routinely checked for road worthiness; chefs intermittently and continuously evaluate their progress whilst preparing meals. There are always checks undertaken for certification of manufacturing processes or simpler day-to-day processes. Simply put, THE ACT OF TESTING PERMEATES OUR SOCIETY - from the home, to the school, to the office or factory, to the shop and even on the road whilst driving. Why then is there such a resistance to accountability? If I open my mouth and utter a statement, I am accountable for whatever I said. That is just a simple yet profound fact. 

Once the age of accountability is attained, then we are and should be accountable for everything we do. The implication is that an examination is only meaningful if conducted against a specified standard. Interestingly, we live in a standard-driven world although standards vary depending on the ultimate goal or objective or the particular body that conducts the tests. So, in a sense the concept of examinations can become quite complicated and intriguing. Unfortunately certain groups and individuals feel they are not subject to the standards (laws) of our societies, hence the sad occurrences of crime. It is the necessity for tests and examinations that drives the enactment of laws in our societies. A lawless society (one that refuses to be examined) will definitely become a death trap because decent standards are expunged from such a society.

Where am I going with all this? I am not trying to compel you to take a Philosophy 101 class. I am stating that if our lives here on earth are not examined, then achievements become meaningless because there are no standards by which to measure them. If there is a standard, then there is an instigator, perpetrator and enforcer of the standard. Morality (the idea of right and wrong) only makes sense in light of what is universally established as the standard of morality. Oh yes, many will object to any such standard and advocate for relativity - the idea that all is relative and variable from individual to individual or society to society. The question that arises is - why are there laws in our society and from where do those laws emanate? Can you imagine what would happen if laws were enforced in a relative sense?

Without prolonging this preamble, it can be stated without fear of contradiction that most of our modern laws are derived from the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). 'Thy shalt not steal' (Commandment #8) is the precursor of our modern-day anti-theft legislation. Do you get the point? It was God who gave the commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai

"Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them.” (Exodus 24:12, NKJV)

While it may be argued that prior to the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses, man had an inkling that theft was wrong, the Law provided a reference framework. In other words, for all nations ‘Thou shalt not steal’ can be traced back to the Creator of the Universe, God Himself. Governments enforce that law today because governance is a biblical principle instituted by God. 

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” (Romans 13:1, ESV)

The citizen who refuses to heed the law of the land soon discovers that his or her freedom can be restricted and punishment meted out in proportion to the degree of the lawless activity perpetrated by the individual. It can be stated without fear of contradiction, the individual who neglects self-examination sooner or later reaps dire consequences because

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked [He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside]; for whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap.” (Galatians 6:7, AMP)

The unexamined life is headed towards disaster. The ultimate examination is carried out with the Word of God as the standard. How do you measure up? The Word of God says

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God “ (Romans 3:23)

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”  (John 3:16-19)

Spoken by Jesus, John 3:16-19 really puts things in perspective. When weighed against God’s immutable standards, we fall short time and time again. Self-examination and scrutiny by the Holy Spirit reveals that we have no hope of meeting God’s standards without Jesus. That is why Jesus came to die on the cross of Calvary for you and I. The Holy Spirit will convict us of sin and of righteousness as we honestly and sincerely examine our lives in the light of God’s Word. The most sensible thing to do then would be to repent of our sin, ask for forgiveness from God through Jesus and then receive Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour (John 1:12). 

Of course, no one is forced to take this step but remember there are consequences for our actions. The Bible states emphatically

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgement, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” (Hebrews 9:27-28)

Living in the light of God’s Word is the best option available for peaceful, joyful and purposeful existence because God is our Creator and all of us are accountable to Him. The principle of examination runs through everything we do. Come to Jesus today and your life will be transformed. You will then be able, by the grace of God, to pass the ultimate test on the day of your exit from this world.