The World We Live In

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.”

~1 Timothy 4:1-5

There are some pretty weird trends across the world. I can look back in my own life and see when some of them began. The 60’s brought about free love and said marriage isn’t necessary; it’s okay to live together and when you get bored with that partner, just get a new one. Abortion became legal with Roe v. Wade and now nearly 4,000 abortions per day are performed across America. It’s okay to kill a child you don’t want. Sex became a sport instead of a sacred union between husband and wife; same sex couples are considered a normal part of life; using drugs became a recreation; spanking your kids became child abuse, and now, it’s all completely out of control. Of course, most of those things have been going on since time began. Even in biblical days, the pagans tossed their children into the fires as sacrifices to their gods. The debaucheries of life have always gone on but today, they are simply accepted, celebrated, and taught in our schools to accept everyone’s “alternate” lifestyle so as not to offend. What we should all be worried about is offending God.

^“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.  Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe (1 Timothy 3:6-10).”

Even the diet and exercise market is out of control. While I see nothing wrong with staying in shape and eating right, there has been a huge increase in fad diets, exercise equipment, and quick fixes for those who worry about their weight. And everyone worries about their weight because the media tells us we’re supposed to. We have to be thin to look good. We have to use their product to get there, and they show models in bikinis to prove their point. Models who probably have never used that product, starve themselves, and have surgery to look the way they do. And while we’re all being berated for not looking like a model, and diet sales skyrocket, America has grown to be the fattest nation in the country with record highs of diabetes, heart attacks, high blood pressure and other weight related problems. There is something seriously wrong.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved (1 Corinthians 10:31-33)”.

Everything in life, it seems, is intent on drawing us away from the truth of God. We must be diligent in our faith, in seeking God’s will in our lives, and keeping our minds focused on Him. The world is full of distractions and contradictions, and if we allow those things to guide us, we are going to be headed down that wide path to hell. There is something very satisfying in knowing the Lord intimately that can’t be found anywhere else. There is a peace that comes with salvation that can filter out the ridiculous world we live in. There is an all-encompassing feeling of love and satisfaction in knowing that no matter what happens worldwide, we are in the arms of Almighty God. What is right and pure and trustworthy will always be right and pure and trustworthy no matter what the world says. Our filter is Jesus Christ and He will never steer us wrong.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things (Philippians 4:8).”

Read Psalm 11-17

© 2018 Marie McGaha