PERSEVERE IN THE MIDST OF A DECLINING WORLD!
PERSEVERE IN THE MIDST OF A DECLINING WORLD!
Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. —Proverbs 1:29-31
Our Lord God Almighty will not force Himself on anyone. He invites people into a relationship with Him. This is what we should be doing as well. We are not to force ourselves on people, but invite them to Jesus.
It is so sad when people hate the knowledge of our Lord and do “not choose the fear of the Lord.” Those who do not want any of His “counsel and despised all (His) reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.” When that happens, it does not end well.
Romans 1:21-32 is very clear. When people do not want to follow our Lord God Almighty there comes a time when He “gives them over” to their own devices (Romans 1:24, 26, 28).
“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. 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.”
Sounds like our culture. Oh, if our Lord gives a people or nation over to their own devices, it becomes very dark, evil and sinful. But we are not to be discouraged, brothers and sisters, fellow followers of Jesus, because we are following King Jesus and His desires for us do not change. We are to be faithful to Him regardless of what happens around us. So, let us be faithful while we are living in this fallen world. One day we will be in glory where everything will be perfect. O glorious day! Even so, come Lord Jesus. Yes, Dear Father, I so look forward to that day, but while I am here, may I be faithful to Your desires. May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. Yes, may this be so and all for Your honor and glory! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ4lAVu9VwU