Do you ever wonder whether there
is anyone who will stand by what they say?
When I was younger and people
made a promise, you could rely on them most of the time to keep their word. I
have shook hands on a deal and that handshake was sufficient to let you sleep
at night comfortably, knowing that a lawyer could not make it more certain than
it was. But that was long, long, ago.
From government to business
people; from parents to children; the commodities of truth and faithfulness are
very rare to be found. There is little, if any, equity, fairness, righteous
dealing (unless you get yourself a very good lawyer to keep things right), or
even natural affection and consideration at times.
Greed, selfishness, hardness of
heart and conscience has become the ‘normal’ these days. In fact, many of the
attitudes and behaviour of society has changed so much that we forgot what was
the ‘natural’ and righteous, and made anything that contradicts ‘proper and
human’, to be termed ‘normal’.
You can lie and steal, trick and
cheat, live without any morals, and do whatever you want to do, without even
having to give an excuse.
You will find this true, not just
in politics and in the man in the street, but also in the church; and when I
say ‘the church’, I refer to those people who claim to be followers of God and
sometimes or regularly go along to a local church building for a meeting. They
may be pastors, elders, deacons, or even heads of denominations. They may be
the ‘worship leader’ or the young people’s pastor.
Paul speaks of them as
‘backbiters, covenant-breakers (promise-breakers), covetous (greedy), malicious
(unashamed to do wrong), implacable (unwilling to tie themselves to an
agreement). Romans 1:28-32
And then later, he speaks of a
time when people will be lovers of themselves, and lovers of pleasures and
entertainments more than lovers of God. He speaks of a selfish and
self-indulgent society where arrogance and selfishness will be the cap that is most
commonly worn. (2Timothy 3:15)
He speaks of the religious
claiming to be ‘godly and followers of God’, but without any evidence or proof
in their habits, attitudes, or practices.
If the proof of righteousness is
not clearly evident, then you do not need to mix with them. A man may be well
known by the company he keeps. A crooked businessman will employ people who
will themselves be crooked or who he believes he can turn crooked. Those who
are clean will escape from those who live in deception and untruths.
There are plenty of people
outside of any religion who tell the truth, do good and kind things, who
actually do care, and who will stand by their word.
The church needs to clean up its
act; and when I say the church, I refer again to anyone of us who may claim to
be a follower of Christ.
If we cannot show the world the
standard of God in all that we do, then what hope is there left?
Put God first. Put his portion
first. Put his standards first. Then blessing will follow. If not, then His
judgment must come to set things in order.
You can hate me for telling the
truth, but the truth will make you free.
To follow Christ is to walk in truth and love.
Pilgrim Warrior
