Years ago, “Just say no!” became a popular saying in America’s war on drugs. It has been used in response to many different sinful temptations. Nothing complicated about the word no. Webster defines it as “A word of denial or refusal, expressing a negative, and equivalent to nay and not. When it expresses a negative answer, it is opposed to yes or yea.” Proverbs instructs us in chapter 1 and verse 10, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.” Just say no when some would lead you the wrong way. “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.” Jeremiah 6:16. God said, “This is the way, walk ye in it” and Israel said no. It is important to say no to the right thing. Saying no to sin is wise. Saying no to God is unwise and foolish. The Bible teaches that the pleasures of sin are only for a season. God’s pleasures are forevermore. The song says, “It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus.
The Bible teaches us the difference between good and evil, truth and error, wisdom and foolishness. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1. We “try” the spirits or search the Scriptures to see what God says is good. The problem today is that many have their own ideas and philosophies. Don’t get caught up in false teachings and say no to the Truth. “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8. Isaiah 5:20 states, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”
There is no question that we should say no to evil and yes to God. Billy Graham wrote,
More than 100 years ago a man living in London was converted to Christ. He became pastor of a church in the slums of London. He went to the poor, the down and out and the oppressed. He formed a little group of people called the Hallelujah Band, and he would stand on street corners and preach the Gospel. Many of the clergy were embarrassed by it all. The man was called before a conference of religious leaders, who said, “William Booth, will you go where we tell you to go? If not, you will be defrocked.” In the balcony a woman stood. She was Booth’s wife, Catherine. She said, “William, say, ‘No, never!’” And he said, “No.” That no changed history in Great Britain and in many other parts of the world, as Booth founded the Salvation Army, which has given help for both body and soul wherever it has gone.
I’ll say yes Lord yes, To Your will and to Your way
I’ll say yes Lord yes, I will trust You and obey
When the Spirit speaks to me, With my whole heart I’ll agree
And my answer will be, Yes Lord yes