Think on These Things
January 1999
A second set of blinders comes from the difficulty that humans have in understanding motivations different from our own. The religious leaders could not see that Jesus cared nothing about taking their economic and political positions, so they crucified Him out of envy (Mk. 15:10). This sordid motivation blinds those who possesses it, preventing them from seeing reality. Political leaders miscalculate badly when they fail to understand how others can stand on principle when their own motivation is to merely retain power (Acts 5:40-41).
Christians should be wise to this human frailty. Being "born again," we should recognize how evil and pernicious our former motives were, and how dramatically they have changed since we came to Christ (Rom. 12:1-2). We should be humbled by the fact that our escape from sin is only through Christ, and it should come as no surprise to us when others cannot understand our motivations (1 Pet. 4:12).
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But is this religion? Answer these questions: What is their doctrine on profane language, premarital sex, adultery, divorce, homosexuality, abortion, humanism, pornography, alcohol, the sanctity of the family, and the credibility of the bible? We know their teachings because they appear in almost every movie. Can you even find a movie that does not contain foul language, nudity or illicit sex? We have all been morally de-sensitized by this constant onslaught, to the point that most are no longer even vexed, as was Lot (2 Pet. 2:7). The evangelism of immorality has been quite effective as it gradually rubs out our virtues, one by one. Paul defines this religion by those "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen." (Rom 1:25)
Evidence the alarm of its priesthood, who view with fear the recent resignations of some who realized that they no longer had the moral authority to govern. Righteousness is a threat to their vision of the utopian society — one that is totally liberated from any trace of morality, any mention of God. Thank God for the degree of morality that still exists in our nation that is waging open warfare with these forces. But keep praying, and keep exerting your positive influence, for the polls show that the war is being lost (Eph. 6:12).
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Hear the words of the apostle Paul to members of the church that existed in the sinful city of Corinth (1 Cor. 6:9-11): "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
Paul listed sins of the worst moral depravity. Yet, through the power of God the Corinthian Christians overcame these sins to "inherit the kingdom" by being washed, sanctified and justified "in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."
Paul himself was the "chiefest of sinners" (1 Tim. 1:13-16), and yet he became one of the most influential apostles. All of the disciples were scattered and disoriented before the crucifixion, and yet about two months later they were willing to give their lives for their risen Lord (see Acts 3-5, especially Acts 5:41) "And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name."
The answer to all of the problems of this life is Christ. All other solutions fall far short. There is no greater contribution that you can make to your society than to obey the truth and become a Christian, and then live your life as best you can for our Lord. Then pray. God has more respect for one righteous person than for the prayers of millions who make no effort to know Him. God will hear your prayers if you are faithful to Him. He will not abandon his own (Rom. 8:37f).
The power of God is infinite; there is nowhere that His arm cannot reach. Now (more than ever) is the acceptable time (2 Cor. 6:2) for us to put our faith and trust in God’s way.
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but Jesus said (Matthew 7:13-14):
"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Think about this: If God were to judge our nation by the result of the polls, what would His judgment be? Government based on populism is what we have — quite different from in the Old Testament times. It is as if God has given us no excuse as a society, since to a greater extent than ever, we determine our own national destiny.
But Mt. 7:13-14 (above) is talking about your personal destiny, not that of your nation. A person’s eternal destiny has never depended on how his country is doing. Jesus implies that if everyone is going along with a system of faith, chances are good that this system will be fatally flawed. This is a sobering thought. But Jesus’ teaching is validated by a simple comparison of conventional religious wisdom against what the bible actually teaches. The narrow way can be found only through a knowledge of God’s word. Find it (Heb. 11:6). Then, dare to do what is right regardless of the majority. Jesus stood alone, as did the great men of faith throughout history (Heb. 11).
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