"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." -Matt. 5:48.
While researching for our other blog, http://watchmanswarnings.blogspot.com/, I am continually exposed to the depths of evil that our world, and our nation have sunk into. These contaminations have become so ingrained within us that most are unaware that anything is even wrong. If some of the evils are eventually acknowledged, they never seem to apply to us, or to our immediate circumstances. After all, every way of a man is right in his own eyes (Prov. 21:2).
This infection is rampant among the professing body of Christ, as well. We are seldom offended by that which should be offensive to adopted children of God, but instead are offended by far lesser matters; issues that really bear no relevance to a Christian life. We are falling into the trap of "calling evil good, and good evil" as warned of in Isaiah 5:20.
An example that I've cited before is of one evangelist who contacted me by e-mail about ABC television network. Apparently, they were no longer allowing their news reporters to wear "American flag" pins on their clothing. To him, this was an outrage, and we needed to boycott ABC television because of it. This evangelist is somewhat SCREWED UP in his reasoning! Really, there were already plenty of good reasons to not only boycott ABC, but virtually all television networks. How could this supposedly Christian man be so offended over something so unscriptural, and unspiritual? How could you take such actions over the wearing of a pin, yet never have been offended by the show, Desperate Housewives? Really, I personally think that in saying you can find something good on TV is like straining at a gnat, and swallowing a camel (Matt. 23:24). Why endorse so much evil, for a minute amount of good?
It is discouraging to consider all the evils of this time, but God has given us a way of escape (I Cor. 10:13). That way of escape applies to the eternal condition of our souls, rather than anything temporal. God shows us this time-honored way of escape plainly in His Word.
"And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel." -Judges 10:10-16, bold type added.
The way of escape that God provides us is through repentance. The Israelites here acknowledged not only a general sinfulness, but also their specific sins (forsaking God, serving Baalim). Today, many who profess Christ really have not acknowledged that their specific actions have been sinful; but only that they are in general need of a savior.
This will never do, and it was not even enough for the Israelites to make this confession. God initially rejected their cries. What then happened to finally move God on their behalf? Not only did the Israelites again confess their sins, but (1) they accepted the punishment that the Lord had given them, and whatever more punishment He would bring; (2) they put away the strange gods from among them, and then finally,
(3) they SERVED THE LORD. All of this seems reminiscent of the Lord's instruction to, "Deny yourself, take up your cross (daily), and follow me." -Matt. 16:24, Luke 9:23.
So many see a need for the Lord's intervention, or a need for revival, yet they never look first within themselves to find what is wrong. Only by acknowledging our own sin first, and accepting God's chastening, will we then be ready to be re-built in the likeness of Christ and used for His glory. It is the inside of the cup that first must be clean, but most today focus on the outside (Matt. 23:25,26).
We have come to this dark point in history because we have turned away from following the Lord;
"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." -Jer. 2:13.
The accelerated spiritual falling of our world really began with the advent of Bible revisions. Far from being an improvement by "updated" language, it served only to instill doubt and confusion within the professing church. In short, it took away the sure foundation (Ps. 11:3) which we relied upon. In every Bible school and seminary, all of the scholarly christian academics are taught to disbelieve the authenticity of God's Word.
"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. 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. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken...Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it." -Jer. 6:15,16, & 18.
Our spiritual way out of this is 100% true holiness. There can be no compromise! Yes, while in the flesh, our best efforts will continue to fall short; our eternal justification is in Jesus Christ alone.
Yet only far too many are yielding to worldliness (I John 2:15), and deliberately making provision to fulfill the lusts of the flesh (Rom. 13:13,14), rather than yielding themselves to be servants of righteousness (Rom. 6:19). Our flesh is too prone toward sin, so we dare not try to "straddle the fence" when it comes to serving Christ; we need to serve Him with all of our being. Jesus said He would that we were cold or hot, and not lukewarm (Rev. 3:15,16). No matter what the issue might be, no matter how seemingly small or great, strive to bring everything under the Lordship of Christ!
"If so be that ye have heard of him, and have been taught by him, as the truth in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." -Eph. 4:21-24.
This world is dying, but let us not die spiritually with it. We who proclaim Jesus Christ need to start living like it, because time is almost up.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." -II Chron. 7:14.
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