Just because you feel like a wonderful person and have managed to convince others that you are, does not mean you are walking in reality.
When anyone watches a sad movie, they might cry, if they watch a thriller they feel very tense. When we see something funny happen to someone on a comedy, we laugh. Why would we do that? These things are not really happening they are pretend and yet we take them seriously as though we were going through them.
It's because, as I have heard scientists say, our subconscious cannot tell the difference between fiction and reality.
We cry at a sad movie because our brain records the events as really happening. When we tense up and seem fearful at a scary movie, it's because our mind is thinking we are in danger.
Some people base their feelings of guilt on the responses of others rather than what really happened.
We live in a culture that is deeply invested in mere words and in feelings. As well as the need to be accepted by others, we base the responses of others on how we think we should act. When a society becomes so filled with dependence on acceptance rather than truth, then we have lost the culture, everyone becomes a clone of everyone else and no one stands against sin because standing against sin will upset those who love the sin.
1 John 3:18-19 "18 Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. 19 And by this we will know that we belong to the truth, and will assure our hearts in His presence:…"
Psalm 62:5-12
"5 My soul, wait in silence for God only,
For my hope is from Him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God my salvation and my glory rest;
The rock of my strength, my refuge is in God.
8 Trust in Him at all times, O people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah."
We feel better when someone makes us laugh even though the problem has not been resolved. We feel validated in sin because the culture is happy for us while we are in it and even encouraging us. Just because we "feel" better does not mean that everything is alright.
We live in a culture now that has gone more deeply into sin because the leaders of the land have lifted the stigma of sin by removing laws that disallowed it.
If we want to see the heart of a country, just remove the laws and watch how many people rush to enjoy the sin they never would have before.
1 Timothy 1:9-10 " 9 We realize that law is not enacted for the righteous, but for the lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinful, for the unholy and profane, for killers of father or mother, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave traders and liars and perjurers, and for anyone else who is averse to sound teaching…"
The righteous people need no laws, they have it in their heart to love good and obey God. Those who need the laws are those who would run amuck without them.
This is why God told us to guard our mind, walk in truth and trust in Him. Our minds take us into an emotional and feelings oriented realm that distracts us from truth and reason, leading us to sin while causing us to trust in people and their acceptance rather than Christ.
The lawless people love to be considered special, they love to be accepted and popular, these are the ones who will follow every trend, act in rebellion when the restraints are removed and pummel any believer who attempts to counsel them or bring the truth of Christ into the discussion.
Isaiah 29:13
"Then the Lord said, "Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,"
Most "Christians" today are more invested in appearances than they are in loving God. They speak all kinds of smooth things while disobeying most of His Word. Oh yes, they can quote the Bible, even speak of it at times, but when challenged to evaluate their own actions and attitudes according to the Bible, they rage like little children having a tantrum as though no one had a right to question them or correct, rebuke or admonish them.
Take a look at the modern Christian, he/she looks a lot like this self righteous one who was so very proud of himself. Let me introduce you to him in these passages:
Luke 18:10-14
"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' read more.
"But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
No comments:
Post a Comment