The origin and outcome of faulty conclusions

Maybe you’ve heard of a non sequitur—a Latin term for “it does not follow.” It’s fallacious reasoning to draw a conclusion apart from sufficient and relevant evidence. Just because I enjoy writing doesn’t mean every person named Isaiah enjoys writing!

In the 1990s, Bert and John Jacobs printed a stick figure with a smile on a t-shirt accompanied by the words “Life is good.” The company is worth over 100 million dollars simply because they creatively (and humorously) use non sequiturs.

They pair the slogan “Life is good” with just about anything. You have a red truck? Life is good. You have a dog on your couch? Life is good. You have a lawn chair? Life is good. You have a bicycle? Life is good.

I’m not trying to sound like a downer, but somebody out there has a red truck that won’t start. Maybe even a lawn chair with the back busted out of it. And he doesn’t think life is all that great right now!

Perhaps you don’t draw faulty conclusions like that very often. But I wonder if you, like me, have ever fallen for spiritual non sequiturs.

Like the psalmist, I’ve been tempted to look at the prosperity of the wicked and wonder, “All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence” (Psalm 73:13 ESV). In other words, those who don’t follow God seem to be doing just fine (Psalm 73:3-12). The faulty conclusion I’m tempted to have is this: living however I want leads to a better life than the life God has for me.

Like Abram, I’ve been tempted to take matters into my own hands when it looked like God wasn’t going to keep His promise— “And Sarai said to Abram, ‘Behold now, The LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.’ And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai” (Genesis 16:2 ESV). The faulty conclusion I’m tempted to have is this: when God seems slow, I should take over.

But there are a few verses in Jeremiah to blame for why I’m writing this article. The verses come in the context of Judah’s ongoing disobedience. They reject Yahweh and cling to idols instead. God is punishing them through Babylonian captivity. Some of them resort to Egypt because they mistakenly think it will be better. But God punishes them severely in Egypt (Jeremiah 44:11-14).

In response, the rebellious people tell Jeremiah, “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you. But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster. But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine” (Jeremiah 44:16-18 ESV).

Do you notice the faulty conclusions they draw? Since they apparently had plenty, prospered, and saw no disaster during the days of idolatrous worship, they’re deceived into thinking that if they continue in idolatry, they’ll experience that prosperity and protection again.

The origin of faulty conclusions is a lack of faith.

A lack of faith leads the psalmist to compare himself to the wicked and envy them—or, at least his perception of their enjoyable lives.

A lack of faith leads Sarai and Abram to take matters into their own hands by getting Hagar pregnant.

A lack of faith leads the people of Judah to wrongly assume all is well with their idolatry.

What kind of faulty conclusion is your lack of faith causing you to make? Doubt is deceptive.

Let this be a reminder that there are some people who lack a genuine faith in Jesus Christ. But since they play the part and life seems to be going well, they draw faulty conclusions and continue pursuing (and sometimes even promoting) sinful patterns.

The outcome of faulty conclusions is disobedience and destruction.

Hebrews 11:6 says it’s impossible to please God without faith. So, if the origin of faulty conclusions is a lack of faith, disobedience is the logical outcome.

The difficulty lies in the deception. Often, those who draw faulty conclusions actually believe they’re right conclusions.

That’s why the people of Judah are so addicted to their idolatry. They really think it’s accomplishing what they want. It’s the same reason people are addicted to sin today.

I’m reminded of the sobering words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. He says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV).

This must be one of the most eye-opening passages in all of Scripture. The people Jesus rejects actually believe they’re right. But they lack a saving faith in Him. So, they’ve arrived at a faulty conclusion. And the outcome is not only disobedience but eternal destruction.

The harsh punishment God unleashes upon His people in Egypt is another example of what happens when people lack faith in God, draw faulty conclusions, and experience the disobedience and destruction that result.

You need not fall for faulty conclusions. Rather than falling for patterns of disobedience and destruction, you can rest in faith and seek the wisdom and discernment available to you. Walk by faith in the power of the Spirit. And if you’ve been falling for faulty conclusions, it’s a great day to repent and rest in the grace of Jesus.

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (ESV).

May God empower us to walk in wisdom with clear minds and pure hearts rather than succumbing to the dangers of faulty conclusions.