I am older, maybe too old to hold a job anymore. After all I’m over 60 years of age and “Well…I’m better off, sitting back and waiting on Social Security…than taking away a job from some young father.” That is the picture of life today…right? I would have to disagree. There is one part of today’s thinking that is overlooked continually by the young, which in years past was considered a foundation: Age.
Back then…AGE was something to be revered, something to look forward to, when the people of the world would ask the AGED…the burning questions about success in many areas of life. Unfortunately, this respect of honored time is long past and for the most part has come back in angry tirades, or forgotten all together. See your local nursing home.
2 Thessalonians 2.10-12, emphasis added:
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
I can’t help but wonder about today and all the people in the world. The days rush by and I become more and more aware that these verses were actually being fulfilled even quicker than the days could turn. We can read in the newspapers and on the net, that UFOs are quickly becoming the newest sensation. We saw a period of time when the “Ghost Busters” were sensationalizing everything concerning the paranormal and they have since fallen into obscurity.
I believe they have become obscure, because it poses the question of the “After Life.” It is rather obvious that those who believe in extraterrestrial life would fend off time more equitably, than paying attention to Ghost Busters. After all, who wants to discuss the dead? It seems that to be inclined to ghost busting is more depressing than exhilarating. One could quickly see that these are “fads” more than anything else. I decided to do a bit of investigating in this area of fads.
Come to find out, “fads” are about fashion, fashion accessories, cars, where one vacations, etc., etc. And usually followed by what celebrity’s choose. It would appear that “fads” have nothing to do with the paranormal in any way whether it is ghost hunting or UFOs or the like. “Fads” are all about what we do today and where and what we wear or engaging in to a lesser degree, innocuous things.
We are not endeavoring to include those that swing to the outer reaches of society of any “fad.” We traditionally speak of thing sin the past like bell-bottom pants, long dog-eared collars, muscle cars (GTO, 68 Chevy Malibu, etc.) and the like. Ghost hunting and UFOs are strange in that they create feelings of dread, speak of the things we would just as soon NOT think about… and give you the “heebie-jeebies.”
They do indeed have their place, but considering the state of the world as we see it today, so many strange events seem to be taking place and the world is indeed worried. Therefore, the musings of yesteryears young, have fallen away and everyone is consumed with the “new revelations” of today.
I can’t say that I blame them! In the last one hundred years, world events seemed to equalize to a degree and yet, in the last two decades we have seem the worst catastrophic events take place and the up-tick in sheer numbers of these events has increased two hundred fold. This is bound to catch the notice of the most stubborn hermit.
We have watched as politics and greed change and almost eradicate the “middle class” here in America. This alone, would tell even the best optimist that doom is coming or something close to it. If ever there would be a scenario of “shooting oneself in the foot,” this is it!
The “one per centers” along with most in governmental politics and big corporations think that they should have the most of everything, regardless of the outcome.
In the end…it has brought about the second greatest recession since the “Great Depression” of the ‘30s. And to note here, it still isn’t over by a long shot and it possibly never will be. Will this be the legacy for our young to remember us by?
It is well spoken of in the Bible, in Proverbs 16:18:
“ Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
The adjectives used here can also include greed as well. How foul PRIDE is! And yet, all one needs to do to have this arrogance of pride shown to them, is speak of Jesus Christ in a public forum of any type. What more does one need to examine the effects of pride, than almost everything going on around us? Crime is almost the greatest indicator. Try murder and theft for example. I sort of had a feeling of what was to come, when Madonna’s song “I’m a Material Girl” first came out and then we had the saying “It’s all about ME!”
Jeremiah 9.23-24, emphasis added:
“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches. But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
It is quite evident that the world knows little to nothing about those verses!
James 1.17, emphasis added:
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does NOT change like shifting shadows.”
Can you imagine, what the world would be like if the world took this verse to heart? We all know when we SIN, we also know there is a God, who is just in every way and HE hates SIN. Therefore we must come to HIM and ask forforgiveness of our SIN. The problem is when we are so puffed up about ourselves…PRIDE…we can’t understand or even see the problem, to begin with!
This is why the Bible is so unique, in pointing to the humility of our heart…before such a just GOD! Because of PRIDE, people in general don’t understand why some things happen, then they excitedly state it was: “Being in the wrong place at the wrong time!” How far from the truth that thought could ever be!!
If there ever was a SIN…so heinous, so blinding, so vile, it is definitely PRIDE!! It makes you and me deceive ourselves into thinking we are more than we ought to think we are worth. At work, we like to think we are indispensable. At home we think we are always right and everyone else is wrong and then we wonder why our children grow up believing they are the “one and only” when that place is reserved for the Lord and no one else!
Romans 14.10-13, emphasis added:
“But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”
I believe those verses say it all and not only that, but speak of everyone saved or not: We WILL be made accountable for everything in our lives. Accountable for what we see and how we act, what we say and where our hearts are, whom we love and whom we hate, absolutely everything! What is even more unique is, everyone…KNOWS…this is true, you KNOW it in your heart (which is your spirit).
It’s just like knowing when you SIN, of which the majority of pastors will NOT preach about! All to the detriment of their congregations! And then these same churches wonder why they are NOT successful? “Prosperity” preached in the pulpits today does nothing more than speak to the PRIDE in every person sitting there, when the Bible expressly speaks of GIVING!!
Does anyone still remember the idea that says, “MONEY stays here? It NEVER leaves this planet!” The Bible continually speaks of the Father…GOD…as SPIRIT!! If that is the case, what has MONEY to do with HIM? NOTHING!! The bottom line for us is to understand that the Lord looks at the content of our hearts NOT the content of our wallets!
Big fancy church buildings and how wonderfully upholstered the pews are, mean nothing to the Lord! These things may even be a hindrance to someone who has no money, even for the offering plates! How odd…the Bible speaks of humility before the Lord…so what does man do, he builds lavish churches and then says this is a sign from God!
“Prosperity is NOT humility”!! Just like wearing $1000.00 suits and dresses makes you look down on those who are filthy, cold and hungry and need help!! I tell you what: You decide which side of the fence you want the Lord to find you on!