Looking at the book of Romans continuing from several weeks ago, Paul gets more specific about things that are against the will of God. The unsaved person sees nothing wrong in living this way (out of God’s will) since he does not see any future consequences to living this way. We, as Christians however, should take heed to these things. If you see any of these traits within yourself, you should begin to think a little deeper and look a little harder and question your walk with God.
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen”
“For this cause God gave them up into vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature.”
“And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the women, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.”
“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”
“Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,”
“Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,”
“Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:”
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:25-32
If you will notice the scripture above, a society which leaves God out of the equation, only gets worse and worse instead of becoming a utopia on earth as socialists would have you believe. God gave us the road map, but we as a people have refuse to pick it up and follow it – similar to the man that knows where he is going but eventually has to stop at a convenience store to ask directions.
With the refusal to follow God man tends to our own devices and when we do that we start to worship ourselves. Look at the vast array of beauty products on the market – for women and for men (there are as many for men as for women now, and the market keeps growing). Look at all the sports and body building equipment. We have trainers, nutritionists, advisors, all to help us build ourselves up in our own eyes to look as gooooood as we can! I am not telling you to neglect your physical being altogether, but what about your spiritual being? How often do you read your Bible? How often do you go to church to meet with other believers (a Biblical spiritual requirement for continued growth)? We want our physical bodies to look good, but what about our spiritual bodies? I tell my Sunday School class that just like a body builder lifts weights to get bigger, our spiritual bodies will not grow unless we exercise them. We cannot (and especially as Christians) tend to the one and ignore the other.
Think about it this way: how long are you going to live? In good health, with modern medicines, may 80 or so years (more than likely less). So, the healthy physical body could last around 80 years. How long will your spiritual body last? The answer is – it is eternal. So, in the grand scheme of things wouldn’t it be more profitable in the long run to have a muscle-bound spiritual body instead of a muscle-bound physical body?
Solomon said “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1:2. He was referring to getting all of the things he had accumulated during his life. It is all vanity when compared with eternity.
Think about yourself. How are you spending your time on earth? Is it in the getting of gain, looking goood, having a good time? Or, is it going after things that are eternal?
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD; and he delighteth in his way.” Psalm 37:23
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and continuing…
Ok, so this is a very funny topic to me. Selfie culture has taken over. It’s not even just an American thing. This is pretty much any industrialized society. If you have a cell phone you take a lot of pictures. We’ve even created selfie sticks just so we can get that perfect angle. What has gotten into us? Self. That is the answer to this one. We are self-seeking, self-serving, self-esteem obsessed people. We are told from the minute our children are born that we should begin to work to build their self-esteem. Most of us don’t even question that narrative; we just start working on telling them how perfect their little sinful souls are.
Philippians 2:2-3 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
We have an entire generation built on selfishness and lies. We are told we can’t be happy if we don’t have self-esteem. Our children will be miserable if they have low self-esteem. So we have grown people walking around with cameras on sticks sticking out their lips, and trying to get perfect angles of bodies and faces. Get that pouty look just right so you can get as many “likes” as possible. It’s difficult not to be swept up into the allure of the “self” culture.
We need to realize that this advice of building self-esteem is actually completely anti-scripture. The Bible says in Philippians 2:5-9 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took on him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.”
The selfish nature of 2020 is contagious. It’s so easy to want to make life all about us. It’s even easier to make it all about our children. If we want ourselves and our children to be successful and happy we need to learn Philippians 4: 11 – 12 “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. “
It’s time we stop filling our children up with pride, and instead teach them how to love others. We are already vain and selfish by nature. Thinking so much about our own thoughts, looks, and desires is destructive behavior. It leads to emptiness. It makes us look and behave foolishly. We need to be wiser. If you feel convicted by this article you are not alone. I also feel the weight of my own pride and foolishness. Let’s repent, and beg God to give us strength of character to do and be better!
“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” CS Lewis.
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Voice of the Introverts 