Isn’t it fun watching the news these day?
I realize that news always points out the oddities of the world. The old saying, “Dog bites man isn’t news; man biting dog is” is a tried and true axiom for what determines what is reported to our world. So it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise when our televisions, radios and newspapers are filled with news stories that tell us the world we’re living in is turning topsy-turvy from what we may consider the norm.
Sometimes, even if the news is different doesn’t necessarily make it bad. Reporting on the Civil Rights movement in the 50’s and 60’s wasn’t a bad thing. It pointed out the inequality and inconsistencies of our society. Sometimes, the news forces us to look in the mirror and see what really is.
Of course, we live in an age when anyone can report something as “news” and a large part of our society will accept it as true. We have entered the age when Walter Cronkite’s “That’s the way it is” has long gone. We find the news we want to hear, and we embrace it. We refuse to allow ourselves to be intellectually challenged, to have our ideas and feelings held up to the light. We no longer need to look in the mirror; we look at photo shop instead.
Nonetheless, our world is changing, our society is becoming more and more diverse and we are daily being confronted with changes that go against accepted norms. This is particularly true when it comes to the Bible and discerning God’s will for our world.
So how does a person who professes to be a believer in Christ find his or her way in a changing world? How do we handle everything that’s going on around us.
Don’t Be Surprised & Don’t Panic
There is no reason to be alarmed just because the world seems to be going to hell in a handbasket. The book of Revelation makes it clear that things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. Paul makes the case in Romans 1-3 that what the Bible considers as evil will continue to prevail for some time. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against al the godlessness and wickedness of men, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what they may by them about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. . . . The exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created tings rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen” (Romans 1:18-19, 25). In this passage, Paul addresses those who are openly rebellious against God (1:18-32), those who consider themselves moralists and ethical (2:1-16) and those who profess to believe in God (2:17-29).
Of the hedonists, Paul writes, “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them” (1:32). Our world today bears this out. Glance on the television the shows that are promoted as “reality” TV. The shows go for conflict, and for titillating situations. The promotion of a less than moral lifestyle is promoted as the norm.
Lest I sound like a grumpy old man, I remind you that there is nothing new under the sun (cf. Ecclesiastes 1:9). The world in which we live is not suddenly turn around and earnestly seek God. The pattern of history shows that just the opposite occurs. Each generation grows further distant from God. It’s not good, but it’s the way it is.
In the book of Ecclesiastes, the writer explored life and its meaning through the pursuits of what the world considers valuable and worthwhile. He sought knowledge and the building of monuments. He gained great wealth and indulged in every whim. His final analysis was that everything was useless, a chasing after the wind. To be sure, he recognized value in wisdom and in meaningful relationships, but for the most part, he came to the conclusion that everyone, no matter how much or how little they accomplish, will all die. “The race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong; nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned, but time and chance happen to them all. Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come” (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12a).
We don’t have to like or approve of the evil in our world, but we should not be surprised by it, either, and we certainly shouldn’t panic. Remember, God is in control and He will win out in the end. Jesus Christ is coming, and He will bring judgment. That’s not something to look forward to for the believer, because many who will be judged and found wanting will be our friends and our colleagues and our families.
So how do we survive in a lost and dying world?
Be True to the God
The writer of Ecclesiastes reaches the final conclusion of his experiment with these words: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For god will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
I’ve shared before in past writings that God has repeated told us His expectations. To the prophet Micah, God said, “He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 8). To the crowds who followed Jesus after having been fed by Him (and were following to get more food), they asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus’ answer: “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent” (John 6:28-29). Paul writes to the Romans: “that if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believed and were justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:9-10).
The point being that those who come to know Christ have the assurance that God is working in us and through us and is watching over us (cf. Romans 8:28-39; Philippians 2:13; John 10:27-30). Knowing God is the key to overcoming and triumphing. Jesus’ warning to His followers is, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of many will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:12-13).
In a world fraught with sin and degradation, it is vital to our well being that we be true to God. Take Him at His word and trust He will always seek our best for us.
Be True to the Word
The Bible affirms that it is the inspired word of God, given to us by God Himself (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16-17), and that God reveals Himself to those He saves (cf. Matthew 16:17). Jesus told His disciples on the night He was to be betrayed that when the Holy Spirit came, He would “teach them all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” and “He will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come” (John 14:26; 16:13).
The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Word which was with God and is God and that the Word was made flesh (cf. John 1:1-2, 14). As the Word, Jesus made a very clear revelation of God to us (cf. John 14:8-9; Hebrews 1:2-3).
As the written Word, the Bible is our most accurate and complete understanding of the Living Word, Jesus Christ. It is with the Scripture we learn how God is working in our world and in our lives, what God’s expectations of us are. We find in the Bible the promises and assurances of God’s eternal presence, wisdom and compassion. We learn of our special relationship with God as the loving Father who rejoices in our coming to Him, who seeks the best for us and who cares for us in ways we are unable to imagine fully.
When confronted by the world and its ways, the best way to respond is not with an argument, but with the Bible. If someone says to me something that contradicts God’s will, I can respond with what the Bible says. That way, if they have a problem with my position, their problem is with the Bible and with God, not with me. Granted, they won’t the difference, but I will. If I’m standing true to God and to the Word, I know that I am speaking the truth in love and understanding, seasoned with salt, free of judgment from me.
Conclusion
We live in difficult times. Though there are pockets of movement toward Christ in our world, there is more movement away from Him. The nations that should be standing strongest for Him are turning our collective backs on Him, denying His involvement and even His existence. For such people, there must be a sadness and prayer that they will see the error of their ways.
But you and I, if we hold to God and His Word, we will stay true to the end. Jesus’ comment to the disciples who had returned from a mission trip, said, “do not rejoice that the spirits submitted to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). The names that are written in heaven are found in the book of life, and victory is ours.
© 2019 Glynn Beaty