"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things." (Romans 1:18-23)
As Christians and thereby students of every word that comes out of the mouth of God (Deuteronomy 8:3), we ought not be confused as to the goings-on in our world and the level of craziness that seems to have recently escalated. Though the evil is certainly more evident now than it has been in our nation's past, we ought not be lost as to the reason for its prevalence. We, of all people, should be able to look into the culture, diagnose the illness and rightly and confidently communicate the prescription to cure the ill. That prescription is nothing less and nothing more than the humble acknowledgment of and submission to God.
We learn from Romans 1 that as a society grows increasingly resistant to acknowledging the handiwork and power of God, that society, if it does not repent, will descend into an unsustainable madness. And that the reason for its inability to sustain itself is simply because the evil hearts of men, when unrestrained because of a lack of the fear of God, cannot help but layer evil on top of evil, heaping up obstacle on top of obstacle for itself to attempt to overcome.
We read further into the chapter that as hostility toward Him grows, God begins to turn His face away from them, removing His hand of restraining grace in stages, allowing this society to receive its wish to be free from His influence. But, if at any point, that society becomes conscious of its error of defying God and comes to Him seeking His help and favor, He will again turn His face toward them and be gracious to them.
What will happen in our society? It doesn't look good. From a human perspective, it seems nearly impossible to find any glimmer of hope that we will repent. It would be easy to resign ourselves to the inevitability that things will only descend from here until life as we know it is over.
But, is that what we ought to do? Though it may be tempting, may that thought be far from us! The God whom we serve has used His people in times past in many unique and powerful ways. They "through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." (Hebrews 11:33-38). And who is to say that He will not use us in similar ways in our day?!
It may very well be that we and our children are on the cusp of such a unique time and an adventure of faith such as no generation in Christian history has experienced. The question that lies before us to day is...are we ready? Has our faith been tested and proven to be genuine? If and when these trials come, will we embrace them by charging headlong into battle? We won't shrink back, will we? We won't disgrace our King by abandoning the front lines, will we? No! We will follow Him into battle, knowing that He has already achieved the victory! Our confidence in ourselves is rightfully non-existent, but our confidence in Him shall not be shaken!
And "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (I Corinthians 15:54-58).
Ever stalwart!
Pastor Jeremy |
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