Job 27:9-10

9 Will God ['el] hear [shama`] his cry [tsa`aqah] when trouble [tsarah] cometh [bow'] upon him?

10 Will he delight [`anag] himself in the Almighty [Shadday]? will he always [`eth] call [qara'] upon God ['elowahh]? KJV-Interlinear

9 'Will God hear his cry, When distress comes upon him? 10 'Will he take delight in the Almighty, Will he call on God at all times? NASB

The spiritually negative person is a hypocrite, a fraud. He proposes to pursue and serve truth, but his passion chases lies. He defines the lies of the world as his truth, and therefore becomes a hypocrite or a fraud with regard to the realities of life.

Anyone, be they tyrant or good in their own eyes, when they reject, ignore, or try to modify truth, is a hypocrite.

As they pursue this pattern of life, throughout their life, then they become comfortable within their self-imposed environment of lies.

When truth is presented to them over and over, again and again, they ignore it for the simple reason that it does not fit their comfort zone of beliefs.

A very good example of this would be those who continue to oppose the war in Iraq, a war that has been turning dramatically toward a strong victory for us, yet this truth does not fit their original opinions in rejection of the war, so they continue to oppose it in spite of a successful outcome. Freedom through military victory is a long, very long established Biblical doctrine.

Sometimes people have preconceived ideas and find it very difficult to accept changes in their pattern of thinking. Making changes in religious thinking is also good example of this concept. When a person is brought up thinking in a certain way, a way that is fraught with errors, it is often times difficult to overcome those preconceived beliefs.

Likewise, when a person has made public, his opinions and they prove to be in error, then backing down from ones errors is also sometimes difficult. It isn't unusual to see politicians pursue with even greater vigor, their bad ideas, in hopes that they can maintain their perceived reputation.

That said, I will no doubt get emails from folks who believe that this is some form of political forum couched in the shadows of a Bible study, but truth is truth regardless of whether it is political or social. We all have to deal with life sooner or later. The Bible does not give us the privilege of choosing only those truths which are convenient to our beliefs.

Most, if not all, beliefs in life come from the public venue. Everyday we are exposed to politics, to news stories, to celebrity statements, to movies, to advertising, to hearsay, to gossip, to religion, and so forth. All of these forums will have an impact on the way in which we think. You will either believe them or not. You will either use them in forming your own opinions, or you will adopt someone else's beliefs as your own.

Bible doctrine is one of many opinions out there in the world. The difference between the Bible and everything else, is that the Bible possesses the truth, and everything else is either a result of that truth or a variation of a lie against the truth.

Sure, there will be those who will use the Bible for illegitimate agendas, but the true student of the Word of God, if he maintains his perseverance and objectivity, will be able to see through the false, and be able to sort out the truth.

As for those who establish a pattern of thought, which continually excludes God and truth from their lives, then that pattern becomes a comfortable habit for them. They begin to believe their web of lies and then when disaster strikes, they are surprised.

Isa. 33:14

14 Sinners in Zion are terrified; Trembling has seized the godless. NASB

They see nothing happening during their lives to move them away from lies. But then is that really the truth?

Isa. 1:18-20

18 'Come now, and let us reason together,' Says the Lord, 'Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool. 19 'If you consent and obey, You will eat the best of the land; 20 'But if you refuse and rebel, You will be devoured by the sword.' Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken. NASB

God has truth always before us. There is never an excuse for anyone to not know what they are doing, and not know the repercussions of their decisions in life.

Anyone can recover from the lies of life and resume living a life of truth, and thus establish a solid pattern of life for themselves.

Prov. 1:27-29

27 When your dread comes like a storm, And your calamity comes on like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come on you. 28 'Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of the Lord. NASB

Judg. 10:14

14 Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your distress.' NASB

But when a person continually lives a life apart from the legitimate teachings of the Word for God, then they, by their own rejection of God, have isolated themselves from His help. God merely answers their implied prayer, requesting God to leave them alone. He does.

And, another result of living a long life apart from God, is that when the chips are really down, you will still not turn toward God for help. The spiritually negative person will remain defiant, even in the face of their own helplessness and self-destruction.

The ultimate example of this? At the Great White Throne, millions and probably billions will stand before Christ, knowing that they are going to the Lake of Fire. Even so, they will hate Christ all the more, and not repent or change their attitude. That is the quintessence of defiant arrogance.

Now is the time to post a prayer.