Do you agree that people, in general, have become more
depraved, wicked, hostile, and dangerous? Do you see your colleagues as immoral,
greedy, and self-serving? Are you longing for the “good ole days” when neighbors
were trustworthy and considerate and children respectful of authority and their
elders? Does history actually support this perception of the “good ole days?” Does
the word of GOD?
There’s plenty in Scripture that contradicts any notion that
human behavior has worsened over time and people are at greater risk today than
they used to be.
Before you are half-way through the first book of Genesis in
the Old Testament (OT) you come face to face with envy, greed, malice, adultery,
betrayal, murder, and all kinds of evil and depravity. Here are a few examples
of OT living:
Cain kills his brother out of jealousy and spite: Now
Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." While
they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Genesis
4:1-16
Men of the city of Sodom attempt to rape angelic visitors to
Lot’s house: all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and
old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to
you tonight? Bring them out to us so that we can have sex with them.” Genesis
19:1-10
King David, the “man after GOD’s own heart,” knowingly takes
another man’s wife and then orders his execution to hide his sin: Then David
sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her…Then she
went back home. The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am
pregnant.”…David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it, he wrote,
“Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him
so he will be struck down and die.” 2
Samuel 11:1-27
We arrive at the New Testament Gospels and we see John the
Baptist imprisoned and beheaded for speaking out against a ruler’s adultery
with his brother’s wife and the Gospel’s main attraction; our Lord Jesus Christ
lied about, brutalized, tormented and ultimately executed on the cross following
an unlawful and unfair night-time trial instigated by corrupt religious and
political leaders whose actions are driven by malice, envy, arrogance, and pride.
Paul in his epistle to the Roman church summarizes man’s depravity
and the reason for it:
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to
retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind so that
they do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind
of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder,
strife, deceit, and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters,
insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey
their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
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. Romans
1:18-32
Paul’s description of evil humanity written in the year
A.D. 54 accurately describes humanity today, A.D. 2020. Humanity is the same
today as they were back in the book of Genesis and, except you are a child of
GOD washed by the blood of Christ and being transformed daily by the Holy
Spirit, Paul is telling us about some part of your life.
If anyone does not
have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in
you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit
gives life because of righteousness. Romans 8:9b-10
Although society encourages a sense of victimhood at the
hands of depraved humanity, the truth is that GOD’s wrath is upon all who
have turned away from Him in that they are left to their own devices and
whatever consequences come with it.
A child of God does not live a victimhood worldview. Are you
exempt from suffering? Certainly not! Jesus clearly states that disciples
Here on earth will have many trials and sorrows. John 16:33. The difference
is GOD uses your suffering for your good and His glory (Romans
8:28.) His will is that you endure trials without losing faith in GOD. Through
trials, you grow in His Kingdom. (James
1:2-4)
There are no lessons so useful as those learned in the
school of affliction. ~ Evangelical Anglican Bishop J. C.
Ryle (1816 – 1900)
To be
continued…
Prayer and
Thanksgiving: Holy Father, may Your Kingdom come and Your will be done in the
lives of your people. Thank you for teaching us that our trials are never in
vain. You are our strength, help us to trust our lives to you so we persevere, and are patient in affliction, knowing that You are a good and loving Father who
does all things perfectly and for our good. To You, Father, be dominion and
power forever and ever. We pray all in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
No comments:
Post a Comment