We live in perilous times.
Is it because of wars, climate change, civil unrest, natural disasters, crime, or diseases?
No. We live in perilous times because men (and women) are lovers of their own selves, without natural affection, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God:
2 Timothy 3: 1-5 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
Natural disasters and epidemics are signs of the times. Civil unrest and wars are consequences.
Crime, violence, destruction of families and divorce are the results of turning away from God.
The times are perilous because people deny the power of God. People no longer care about what God wants. They only want what they want- what makes them “happy.”
From such, turn away.
If you know someone is a cheat, a liar, a lustful immoral person- don’t run across the grocery store to make sure they see you just because they are the mayor. Or offer to spot for them at the gym because they are the county commissioner, or carry on at the restaurant to be seen with them because they are the president of the chemical plant- from such turn away.
If the artist is singing about threesomes and perversity, if the actor is a known pedophile, if the movie is full of violence, immorality, and blasphemy- don’t say “well I like the music” or “he’s just a great actor” or “it’s still a good story”- from such, turn away.
My dad used to always tell me that if I rolled around in the gutter long enough, I would learn to like it. There is an old expression about laying down with dogs and waking up with fleas. We are always told to “surround yourself with winners.” No matter how strong we think we are, we cannot help but to be influenced by those around us.
And there is big danger in that:
Isaiah 5:20- Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Think about society today. There was a time when cohabitation- living together, “shacking up”- was low-class, immoral. Now it’s normal. Constant exposure to something eventually becomes internalized, becomes normal.
1 John 2:15-17 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
It can be tricky. There are alot of people that speak well, they give to charity, they help people. Maybe they are kind, witty, attractive. They have a form of ‘godliness’. We say “look how good they are trying to be” while ignoring they beat their wives, abuse their children, live completely immoral lives, promote atheism, celebrate perversity.
Successful people will always tell you to surround yourself with successful people- hang out with the winners. Why? Because you are influenced by the people around you. You internalize the behaviors and traits of the people around you- you emulate them.
Psychological studies and sociological research have proven that constant exposure to violence, pornography, and the glamorization of illegal and immoral activities desensitizes people to these behaviors and completely distorts our perceptions of what is normal.
The entertainment industry is particularly adept at selling soul-damaging behaviors and promoting immoral behaviors. A few years ago, everybody was wrapped-up in “Game of Thrones”. Because it was all the rage I made a couple of attempts to watch it- I couldn’t do it. It was absolute filth. Rape, nudity, incest- garbage. Do you think Jesus would watch it?
Fifty Shades of Grey, Pulp Fiction, WAP- very popular. Very sad. Very telling commentary on the moral state of our society.
Our society’s idea of role models has changed drastically. What was once Martin Luther King has become Snoop Dogg- it has an effect. The Black community was once very conservative with strong families. Now, after years of assault by gangsta rap 70% of Black families have no father in the home and over half of Black males have been to prison.
The divorce rate was once less than 10% in our country- after the “sexual revolution” and free-love movements it is now over 50%. The traditional family is demeaned in popular culture and divorce is now common-place.
You are not here to join in the madness. You are not here to congratulate and admire the pervert. You are not here to praise the corrupt. From such- TURN AWAY.
Why you are here:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;- Philippians 2:15
Bondo- the real deal 