I’m a geek who loves coding. My life-long romance with computer code started in the 9th grade with Ms. Meeks, a burly, no-nonsense woman who taught me how to make “Hello world” scroll on the screen per my written instruction.
That’s all code is – the instruction for what a system should do and when, where, how to do it.
But, sometimes my code was broken; it wouldn’t work at all or it didn’t work in the manner I intended. That’s when it was time to run my code through a validator.
See, a validator is another computer program that checks the syntax (did I follow the rules) and validity of your code. It usually returns “all clear” or red flags to show you where your code went wrong.
In many ways, the Holy Spirit is the Holy Validator for the body of Christ. When we’re executing the commandments of God (code), or falling short of doing so, the Holy Spirit leads and guides us into all truth so that God’s instructions can execute properly (John 16:13).
Bottom line, validators matter.
There Are Not-So-New Validators in Town
Being the counterfeit he is, the enemy has his own set of validators. And, they don’t look or operate as you may think.
There are family, friends, influencers, media strategically staged throughout our lives that, knowingly or unknowingly, operate as vile validators. When we’re about to make a bad decision, they’re right there to co-sign it and nudge us on. When there’s good we want to do, they’re right there in our ear saying, “that’s a bad idea.”
Now, you may think that the word vile is a little strong but just think of the damage that one wrong validation can do to your purpose or destiny.
What’s the worse that can happen when you run your thoughts, choices, decisions (code) through a perverted, vile validator?
‘Positive Validations’ That Had Negative Consequences
There are many examples in the Bible of how listening to the wrong voice – even for what was believed to be the right reasons – can cost you everything; take a look at these vile validations:
- “You won’t surely die.” – the serpent to Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:4)
- “Lie and keep part of the money for yourself, Paul won’t know…” – Satan’s influence on Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
- “Go and sleep with my maid…” – Sarah suggesting to Abraham to sleep with Hagar to “help” fulfill God’s promise of a son (Genesis 16:2)
- “You brought us out of Egypt to kill us here in the wilderness and make us your subjects…” – Dathan and Abiram validating Korah’s rebellion against Moses (which resulted in their deaths in Numbers 16:12-32)
The reason why some validations are so dangerous is that they affirm and validate what our flesh already wants to do. Depending on how strong the desire, all some of us need is one person in our “amen corner.” Some agreement with our decisions or behaviors is cloaked in perversion to validate our wrong thinking and actions.
How can we know the difference?
So, What’s the Play Call?
How to Keep God’s Validator, the Holy Spirit, from Being Drowned Out?
- Root yourself in the Truth, Jesus Christ, and the Word of God. Give the final say to God through your pursuit of sound doctrine. Study God’s Word, asking the Holy Spirit to help you rightly divide what you read and are taught (Psalm 119:89).
- Ask God to reveal if you have itching ears. After practicing #1, the Holy Spirit will guide you into truth as to whether your desires are of God or your flesh. Are you too happy to receive the validations of others? Do the validations of others preclude any further prayer and supplication to God, as if the validators have the last word (2 Timothy 4:3)?
- Stop ignoring the voice of the Holy Spirit. On the outside, you’re smiling, happy, moving in the direction of destruction. But, on the inside, your stomach is in a knot, you can’t sleep at night, you have no peace. Heed these warnings of God and seek His face (1 Corinthians 2:11-12). Turn away from that evil course quickly!
- Accept that there is no safety in numbers against God. A trick the enemy will play with you is that – you’ll receive confirmation after confirmation, validation after validation to go against Christ and the will of God. There is no safety in numbers! Don’t believe for a second that “all these people can’t be wrong!” Remember, BROAD is the way that leads to destruction; there may be many people on the path, but the path still leads to death (Matthew 7:13).
In these last days, there will be more and more validators rising up to co-sign, validate, and affirm sin, destruction, and all manner of evil. Guard your hearts and your minds, teammates.
