Sometimes a man has got to stand up for what’s right, no matter what the consequences might be. Doing right by others was a code I could understand and was a staple in the way I lived my life.”
–Chris Mullen (Rowdy: Wild and Mean, Sharp and Keen)
“That in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to enjoy themselves in every evil way imaginable.”
–Jude 18 (NLT)
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What virus is affecting America? There is hatred abounding as we saw another attack on the President. The ways of the world, and of the devil I will add for they are one and the same, are poisoning society. Whose truth are we to believe? Are we to make up our own truth, in other words, is truth relative? Have you noticed the things of the world creeping into the church, or in some places actually being invited in? One minister (?) has stated that a third testament should be written, the other two are obsolete, archaic. No wonder the world is crazy, full of hate, bitterness–they have left out God, forgotten Him.
But what about Christians, full-fledged believers in the Lord? God’s call is clear to His people:
“Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.” — Philippians 2:15-16 (NASB)
The NLT translates the last phrase thusly, “Hold tightly to the word of life.” A “crooked and perverse generation,” my, doesn’t that describe the world in which we are living? “Hold tightly, don’t give in to the ways of the world–don’t compromise, don’t be complacent, don’t be curious about evil. Our society is one of confusion, of broken and torn down ethical codes. It spurns and sneers the name of Jesus Christ, so God’s calling is very clear. We are to stay blameless, we are not to be involved in the works of the world, and we are still to be lights to an ever darkening world. The problem seems to be among so many so-called or pseudo-believers is what Gary Inrig describes, “Much more than I want to admit, many Christians live, act, and choose as if God’s Word has never been written.”
There are four key ideas I want us to keep in mind. We will look at one of them this morning. First of all, God is righteous! One can almost hear the warning of the Holy Spirit, “Beware lest you also fall into temptation and a similar fate befall you.” When a nation has lost its first love there is an unmistakable picture of a righteous God. We read in Revelation, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deed you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lamp stand out of its place–unless you repent.” (2:4-5, NASB)
This nation, so blessed, so guided by God to be a “city on a hill” a beacon of righteousness to the world by spreading the Gospel has become enthralled with perversity, with moral and ethical collapse. It is confused and in the throes of misery. This nation is forsaking the foundations upon which it was built; it is forsaking a holy God. Sin was, and is, not an insignificant thing, to be passed over lightly; it was an affront to God’s righteous being and as such, in the past was visited by stern and painful judgment, so it will be again. A nation, any nation, that forsakes the Lord, or lowers and compromises His standards, cannot hope to prosper in any ultimate sense.
Instead of compromise we are to be holding forth the standard. Not shunning the Word of God, but lifting it up for others to see. We are to be a witness for Him, in our words, actions, and life. Don’t cry legalism, when we are called to be separate from the world. Don’t hunger and thirst for the things of the world, but hunger and thirst for His righteousness. Where is your passion? Where is your honor? Where is your loyalty? My friend, in this day of confusion and perversity hold tightly to the word of life!
“That in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to enjoy themselves in every evil way imaginable.”
–Jude 18 (NLT)
———————————-
What virus is affecting America? There is hatred abounding as we saw another attack on the President. The ways of the world, and of the devil I will add for they are one and the same, are poisoning society. Whose truth are we to believe? Are we to make up our own truth, in other words, is truth relative? Have you noticed the things of the world creeping into the church, or in some places actually being invited in? One minister (?) has stated that a third testament should be written, the other two are obsolete, archaic. No wonder the world is crazy, full of hate, bitterness–they have left out God, forgotten Him.
But what about Christians, full-fledged believers in the Lord? God’s call is clear to His people:
“Prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life.” — Philippians 2:15-16 (NASB)
The NLT translates the last phrase thusly, “Hold tightly to the word of life.” A “crooked and perverse generation,” my, doesn’t that describe the world in which we are living? “Hold tightly, don’t give in to the ways of the world–don’t compromise, don’t be complacent, don’t be curious about evil. Our society is one of confusion, of broken and torn down ethical codes. It spurns and sneers the name of Jesus Christ, so God’s calling is very clear. We are to stay blameless, we are not to be involved in the works of the world, and we are still to be lights to an ever darkening world. The problem seems to be among so many so-called or pseudo-believers is what Gary Inrig describes, “Much more than I want to admit, many Christians live, act, and choose as if God’s Word has never been written.”
There are four key ideas I want us to keep in mind. We will look at one of them this morning. First of all, God is righteous! One can almost hear the warning of the Holy Spirit, “Beware lest you also fall into temptation and a similar fate befall you.” When a nation has lost its first love there is an unmistakable picture of a righteous God. We read in Revelation, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deed you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lamp stand out of its place–unless you repent.” (2:4-5, NASB)
This nation, so blessed, so guided by God to be a “city on a hill” a beacon of righteousness to the world by spreading the Gospel has become enthralled with perversity, with moral and ethical collapse. It is confused and in the throes of misery. This nation is forsaking the foundations upon which it was built; it is forsaking a holy God. Sin was, and is, not an insignificant thing, to be passed over lightly; it was an affront to God’s righteous being and as such, in the past was visited by stern and painful judgment, so it will be again. A nation, any nation, that forsakes the Lord, or lowers and compromises His standards, cannot hope to prosper in any ultimate sense.
Instead of compromise we are to be holding forth the standard. Not shunning the Word of God, but lifting it up for others to see. We are to be a witness for Him, in our words, actions, and life. Don’t cry legalism, when we are called to be separate from the world. Don’t hunger and thirst for the things of the world, but hunger and thirst for His righteousness. Where is your passion? Where is your honor? Where is your loyalty? My friend, in this day of confusion and perversity hold tightly to the word of life!