Those who use pleasure as a standard for determining moral conduct are playing into the hands of godless evolution. Apart from being divinely created with an eternal spirit, we do not have any absolute standard governing our behavior. But, if we have been created in the image of God, as the Bible teaches, then we must seek to live consistently with His revealed will.

Human conduct is directly influenced by self-image. The Bible says, “as he thinks within himself, so he is…” (Prov. 23:7). If a person believes that he is created in the image of God, his personal conduct will tend to be consistent with that belief. But, if someone believes himself to be nothing more than the random by-product of an evolutionary process, his sense of morality will naturally gravitate in a direction consistent with that belief system. In fact, it is inconsistent for an atheist to argue for any moral standards to govern human behavior. If there is no God, there can be only those standards which we have chosen for ourselves. And, who can say if these standards are inherently right or wrong?

Such is the dilemma of a society which measures the “rightness” or “wrongness” of a particular activity by the pleasure that is received. There is nothing wrong with pleasure. In fact, God created us with the ability to feel both pleasure and pain. But, pleasure must not become the chief good sought or it will become the standard by which all else is measured. The pleasures which God has provided are wonderful blessings when used in the manner for which they were intended. However, when they are abused, they produce harmful consequences.

If we are forbidden to use the pleasures of life in inappropriate ways, does this mean that we are somehow robbed of life’s fullness? Quite to the contrary, God’s rules and standards are given to enable us to enjoy life to the fullest extent possible. But, more than that, following God’s way prepares us for eternal joys in heaven. Jesus said, “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

The freedom the world offers through the pursuit of pleasure is nothing but abject slavery. Solomon aptly describes it as little more than “striving after the wind.” True and lasting freedom is found only in Jesus Christ.

— Glen Elliott —