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Happening To Us?
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It’s right
there. In broad daylight. Everybody can see it. What’s
happening to us? It says, “Who’s the real father?” then
it gives a number, “DNA-Help.” What’s happening to us?
Can you believe that? There is enough sleeping around and
there are enough babies being born out of wedlock that someone
one has found a way to make money off it. It’s very
depressing to me that we have stooped to such low moral
depths. And what bothers me about as much as anything is where
do we go from here? It should be obvious that just a little
evil seed sown will result in a considerable more being
harvested—in this instance, I fear—a bumper crop!
The Scriptures speak to such times. In Romans , Paul speaks of
the degeneration of the Gentiles. He says, “Because that,
when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither
were thankful: but became vain in their imaginations and their
foolish heart was darkened.” That’s a description of where
and what we are, folks.
“What can I do?” you say, “I’m only one person—one
person without much influence.” Well, maybe so, but there a
several things you can do. For instance.
You can talk against evil. Just talk about it
with folks. Tell folks you don’t like that sign. Tell them
you don’t like the direction our “morality” has taken.
Tell them it’s time for folks who are repulsed by such
obvious disdain for righteousness to speak out against it. You
may not can do much, but everyone can touch just one.
Keep yourself from being involved. Far too many
folks are being gradually taken in by the pressures and
possibilities of a society filled with lewdness and putridity.
Some folks are saying “I can handle it,” and are carrying
home “R” and “X” rated movies. This kind of filth
takes its toll on your spirituality. It gradually wears away
your protective coating. Paul says, “Give no place to the
devil” (Eph 4:27).
You can feast on higher things. It’s actually
not enough to get the evil out; you must put the good in, as
well. A person who has constant, daily contact with the word
of God is far less likely to be impressed with the allurements
of the world. How often do you read your Bible? As often as
you watch your favorite TV show? You will likely subscribe to
the things to which you are most often exposed. That’s a
serious matter, don’t you think? And it’s beyond me how we
think we can just give some sort of mental assent to the
Scriptures and that’s all that’s needed. The Bible is to
be mined. Its principles are to be practicalized. If you are
to overcome the world, you’ll have to “put on the whole
armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand (Eph 6:11). Notice that it
requires the whole armor, not just part of it.
Whatever area you neglect, you become vulnerable in that area.
You can make your real citizenship known.
“This world is not my home,” the song says, “I’m just
a passing through.” It’s true—this world is not your
home. “For our conversation (“citizenship,” ASV) is in
heaven; from whence we look for a Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ.” If we are really dedicated to going to Heaven, why
is it that we become so enamored with this world. This is not
our home! We are strangers here. We are of another culture,
one where holiness and piety are the norm. It’s hard being
what you ought. But being what you ought you must. It’s the
only course of conduct that makes any sense at all. And
besides, we don’t belong here.
We are fighting against great odds. But that’s been the case
for God’s people for all time. But that for which we fight
has real substance, so let’s do it with our might. Someday
we’ll be glad we did.
Dee Bowman
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Copyright (C)
2009
Southside Church of Christ
All rights reserved.
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