I have been noticing lately a heightened sense of awareness by people of the wickedness that is just exploding around us in the western world. This is not a good thing. What I immediately recognized was not that evil was rapidly on the increase (that has been true for the last 60 years), but that people in the main are only aware of it when it gets very far ahead of the comfort zone of the population. What I mean is this: sin is tolerated when the general population is comfortable with that sin. If a new amount of sin, or even a new sin is introduced to the public, people may be shocked, but only until they get comfortable with that new sin. Society is on a genral downward slo, constantly just behind the sins that are pulling it down. The only time there is outrage by the general public is when the amount of sin is way far ahead of our tolerance. Hence my sadness because, sin is sin, and brings forth the judgment of death no matter who you are (Romans 6:23). Christians must begin to analyze their own comfortableness with sins and begin to cry out against them whether other people are comfortable with them or not, and begin to bring people back to a walk of righteousness and holiness that comes with knowing Jesus Christ as both Saviour AND Lord. People need to not only be saved from the punishment of their sin, but also from the "pull" of it downward as well. The way you will be able to tell the amount of pull that sin has on you is the amount of "comfortableness" that you have with what's showing on the TV, and what is spewing out of the mouths of your friends.
Just two Scriptures will suffice for God's view about our tolerance of sin in this world:
Tit 2:11,12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
1Pe 2:11,12 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Think on these things. Until next time, God bless you, and look-up... Jesus is coming again! Pastor Craig
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2 comments:
Amen, Bro. Ledbetter!
This is good. I know what you meant about sin being tolerated because people grow comfortable with it. Here in Holland we have a saying ~ “Alles mag,” (“Anything goes.”) ~ and it’s true. All that is vile and filthy is tolerated, and that which is righteous and holy is looked down upon. Everything is backwards and upside down.
My dad just preached a message about the spirit of Laodicea. Unfortunately I was in the nursery and the message didn’t record (interesting!), so I didn’t hear if myself. Dad did, however, talk about some of his main points with us during family devotions on Monday.
The witches who have the closest contact with Satan have a name for each demonic spirit, but there is one that has no name. They call it the “Christian spirit.” A former witch, now a preacher, believes this “Christian spirit” is the spirit of contentment. Like a drug, it numbs the believer to sins that should bother him.
Serious soul searching is not enjoyable, but it is essential for every Christian to do it from time to time. Our 1 John 1:9 soap bar is ever effective, praise the Lord!
May God make our hearts soft and tender to that which grieves Him. May the things that anger Him anger us. Lord, let my heart be broken by the things that break Your heart!
Thanks for sharing, Preacher!
He IS coming soon! Hallelujah! Heaven looks sweeter with each passing day.
Forever in Him,
Hannah Huussen
Isaiah 58
1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
Jeremiah 6
14 They have healed also the hurt [of the daughter] of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when [there is] no peace.
15 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.
And it says the same thing over again. Why have I not heard of any one having this as a "memory verse"?
Jeremiah 8
11 For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when [there is] no peace.
12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 13
23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? [then] may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
24 Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of the wilderness.
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