BUT WHILE MEN SLEPT, HIS ENEMY CAME

As I look at the history of America, I am convinced that the “falling away” or “rebellion”  spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, began to occur before many of us were even born.  Just in looking back at the movies and television in America, from the time of the “Dick Van Dyke Show” 1961 (where they would not even allow people portraying a husband and wife to be filmed in bed together.)  to now where there is all kinds of sex and perversion on even prime time shows for all the kids to see.

When you are born into something - it is easy to think it is “normal” until a light is shined on it and a revelation of God’s Holy Word is brought before you.  Even then - it often takes repeated exposure to God’s standard of truth written in His word before you can even begin to comprehend how far off this world has traversed.

It takes humility to be able to see and receive the truth.  That pretty much all of society, in all nations, has fallen away from the standards God - Our Creator, set up for us in this creation of His.  But once you get past the acknowledgement of that truth, it is absolutely shocking how far society has fallen away.

Matthew 13:24,25  “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;  but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.”

I’m not sure when it began, but television certainly put it on the fast track.  Even looking at “The Wizard of Oz”  filmed in 1939,  you can see a complete departure from the reality of God’s Word and standards.  Instead the subtle introduction of a wizard having the answers and that goodness and answers come from man - without the need of God, and entertainment became the pursuit of much of humanity. (a modern idol - even the Oscar is a golden statue of a man) This departure was subtle and cunning.  

I think television and media was (and is)  the most powerful tool in Satan’s hand to reshape mankind into a non believing and self centered, entertainment seeking, moral less group of people - and it has taken decades to slowly move it to this point.  It is heartbreaking, but mostly for those that are under it’s spell of brain washing, where man is his own god and his own standard maker.  Again, it happened before most of us were born.  A departure from the Word and ways of God.  There is no condemnation towards us - we can’t help that we were born into a time of great deception.  But truth is also readily available to anyone seeking to find it.  For that we are accountable.

It takes a great commitment to follow God’s word.  As I spoke in the beginning 2 Thessalonians  2 talks about the rebellion and falling away of those that claim to believe in Christ.  John 1 says that Jesus is the living Word of God and came to dwell among us.  If you are a believer you must “fight the good fight of faith”.  To stick out in a generation that is going down stream and choose to fight the current to go upstream towards Gods ways and standards.  Doing that now may mean the difference between life or death.  Eternity in heaven or hell.  This is no light matter, and to stand up and walk in God’s ways will require a sacrifice (taking up your cross daily)  but that sacrifice is small compared to what Jesus did for us.  He is a good God and always has our best interest at heart.  He is for us and not against us.  (Romans 8:31)

One day this will all come to an end.  One day we will stand before God and receive a reward for following Him, or suffer loss for not.  Heartbreaking loss.  Your story is dependent on your heart choices.  God alone can empower you to walk the walk in this degenerate society, but the rewards for choosing to follow Jesus and His word, will last into eternity.

My heart goes out to us all.  May God shed His light within us by His Holy spirit and may we have the grace to keep looking to Him who is the author and finisher of our faith and run this race with patience, enduring until the end.  God bless each and every one of you.  We are a chosen generation.  May God help us fight the good fight of faith.

Amen

Your sister in Christ, Jean

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.