Mankind And Apostasy

In Ecclesiastes 7:29), the Ecclesiastes writer points out the fact that God created man “upright” or fashioned man in the moral image of God (Genesis 1:27). Thus man was not designed in God’s original plan to be sinful, but rather with a spiritual inclination to faithfulness (cf. Matthew 24:13; Revelation 2:10).

The term “upright” gives us the idea of one who possesses a disposition that loves rightness and declines any wrongdoing that is contrary to God’s law (cf. Psalm 7:8-11; Psalm 125:4).

However, contrary to God’s original plan, mankind has “gone in search of many schemes” (Ecclesiastes 7:29 NIV) or “inventions” (Ecclesiastes 7:29 KJV). With purpose and persistence of mind, mankind has facilitated his apostasy by charting a course away from the will of God (Genesis 11:1-9; Hebrews 3:8-12; cf. Numbers 14:1-38; Numbers 20:1-13).

For example, television could have been used as a marvelous invention of communication to glorify the God of heaven. Unfortunately, this medium has largely been used as a provider of immorality (note soap operas and late night fare which promotes homosexuality and other deviant lifestyles).

There’s only one way for sinful mankind (Nehemiah 9:33) to return to the state of being “upright,” and that is to return to the “upright” judgments of God (Psalm 119:137; Psalm 25:4-10), being obedient to His voice (Nehemiah 1:6-9; Deuteronomy 4:29-31; cf. Deuteronomy 30:1-3).

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets