We are living in a corrupt society. Good grief, pretty much a whole newscast these days is depressing if that is all you have to go on. Do you know what? God knew about it from the very beginning and even had Paul, through the Holy Spirit, write about it in one of his letters to Timothy.
See 2 Timothy 3, verses 1-5:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”
“Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,”
“Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;”
“Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
You see? I do not even have to start an argument about it. Paul wrote it out about 2000 years ago.
Keep reading on up through verse 13 – Paul continues to tell about the state of things going on. It just keeps on getting worse and worse – the description of a corrupt society. There is no evolution where things continue to improve with time, it continues on downhill up until the very last. If you have any knowledge of the scriptures, or your curiosity has been aroused to read on you will see that it never improves.
Lest I leave everyone hanging in a depression – you do not have to be on edge or in a funk. Paul’s letter was originally to Timothy, who was a young preacher, but the letter also speaks to anyone of the Christian faith, read verses 14-17:
“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and has been assured of, knowing of whom thou has learned them;”
“And that from a child thous hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
“That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
Know what he just said? He said read your Bible and live your Bible. He said the Word of God is what will give you peace in today’s society. I am also going to read between the lines people and embellish a little bit (no, I am not adding to the Word – it’s already there you just have to read between the lines a little). He is saying that time is almost up, get into the Word (GOD), live the Word (GOD), breathe the Word (GOD). The time is drawing to an end, and you are still the only Bible some people will read. Do others see Jesus in you?
AE
and continuing
Ephesians 6:11&12 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of darkness in this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” As a mom of two, my main ministry right now is raising my children to be followers of Christ. In this world I cannot let down my guard for a moment. I must stay vigilant. I have to be aware. Recently a new show came out on Netflix that my daughter begged me to watch with her, The Babysitters Club. I said, “Let me watch it first to make sure it will be ok to watch.” Days went by, and I never remembered to watch it on my own, and I finally just said, “Never mind, we’ll watch together, and if it’s inappropriate we’ll just turn it off.” So we watched the first three episodes, and although there were subtle things I disagreed with, it didn’t seem like a big deal, so I let it slide. We started watching episode 4, and within minutes they broke the news that one of the girl’s dads was homosexual. I quickly turned it off. Later I went back and finished watching this episode on my own. Transgenderism, homosexuality, witchcraft, feminism, and almost every form of perversion you could think of was sweetly introduced to children in the most normalizing way possible.
Our society conditions us to accept sin. If you watch practically any show on television there will be so much perversion that you begin not to even notice it anymore. Cursing, fornication, sodomy, just to name a few. I recently ran across a quote that really stuck with me.
“First we overlook
evil. Then we
permit evil. Then
we legalize evil.
Then we promote
Evil. Then we
Celebrate evil.
Then we persecute
Those who still call
it evil.” –unknown
If that does not sound like our world I don’t know what does. So what can we do as Christians to keep our minds and hearts free from all of the humanistic and wicked philosophies surrounding us? The answer is simple, yet profoundly difficult. Ephesians 6:13-18 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins gird about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
Every single day that we wake up we need to die to self, and beg God for strength to live for him. In my home that meant ditching a lot of our normal forms of entertainment, and replacing it with wholesome content that didn’t constantly bombard our minds with all forms of perversion. When we take away a temptation, it’s important to replace the evil with good, so that we don’t end up coming back to what we know we shouldn’t have. It’s like when you are on a diet, but your cabinets are full of chocolate and junk. You will not stay on the diet that way. You have to throw out the bad, replace it with delicious healthy foods and treats. This is the same way that we need to nourish our souls.
Ephesians 6 is one of my favorite passages in scripture. My family and I spent the beginning of last year memorizing it. We have recently begun working back through it as a refresher, and every time I read it, I find something new to contemplate. I’d like to suggest it as a passage for every Christian to take the time to memorize. Quote it to yourself each morning, or write it where you will see it every day. Keep it close to your heart, and meditate on its meaning. Let’s work hard to be as much like Christ as we possibly can. Make sure when you go out into the world they look at us and think we are weird. Let’s all dare to be different!
GA
Voice of the Introverts 