"If a tree falls in the forest and there is no one to hear it, does it make a noise when it falls?"
These kinds of thoughts are designed to confuse those hearing them.
Of course, a tree makes the sound of falling even if no one is there to hear it.
We are living in a world that thinks something does not happen unless we can see or hear it. Or unless we "choose" to see and hear it. I recall many years ago as a child seeing the three monkeys on television, one covered its eyes, one covered its ears and one covered its mouth, as if to communicate; "if I choose not to see, hear or speak something, that makes it not real."
We live in a culture that chooses to only see the positive in every choice a person makes merely because they make it. There is no right or wrong, there is only "what we want."
Isaiah 30:9-11 "…9 These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction. 10 They say to the seers, “Stop seeing visions!” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us the truth! Speak to us pleasant words; prophesy illusions. 11 Get out of the way; turn off the road. Rid us of the Holy One of Israel!”
We are living in a world full of arrogance and self-will, and do not think this is only among the unsaved, it is also in the churches everywhere as a matter of course.
There may be some truth in every gathering but it is so diminished in its application that barely resembles the truth of God's word.
When a culture is trained to refuse to see the downside of things they will ultimately cause more problems than they would have had if they had followed God's standards.
If someone is about to step into the street while a truck is roaring toward them it makes good sense for someone who is standing by to pull them back to save their life. However, what if that person turned to the one attempting to save their life and shouted at them that they had the right to walk in the street anytime they wanted, we would know instantly this person was irrational, and not in their right mind. A normal rational person would profusely thank the one who saved their life.
Our culture is progressing in many things that defy God's principles and standards. It makes no sense for someone born one gender to try to become the other gender. All the problems with the choice to do such a thing are legion. I say it this way because "legion" refers to devils who influence those with irrational unreasonable, fallacious (misleading information), and illogical thinking.
When we think rationally we will evaluate things based on truth and not feelings.
For example: changing one's gender requires monstrous surgery, lifetime hormonal drugs, and the possibility of the one with the gender ogmentation to change their mind as they grow older but without the ability to return to their real selves.
When we see the consequences of disobedience to God's Word we can understand why the culture is imploding because of the choices to defy God's Word. Families are being destroyed by divorce and remarriage, and babies are being murdered in the womb by their own mothers leaving many mothers with regrets, not to mention the blessing of a child to a family is completely removed, leaving many people devaluing children.
Parents have become more lenient in their training because they do not care about their children. They are more interested in looking like a happy family than actually being decent human beings who care for one another. God has taught us that training children to be good citizens in our culture must include discipline and constant teaching.
Illegal drugs are being legalized to please those who are destroying their own bodies and minds while obliterating their families.
The incidence of suicide among the youth is rising quickly as they see no hope in their existence. Since God is not on their minds they have no one to turn to who cares about them.
God is mocked in nearly every venue now as it has become fashionable to make a god of one's own choosing for the sake of good feelings.
When "feelings" are the objective in all interactions there result is chaos and intense foolishness that destroys lives.
Proverbs 29:9-10 " 9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool, there will be raving and laughing with no resolution. 10 Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man, but the upright care for his life.…"
Men of God create real, rational, and reasonable solutions that help which are based on God's Word. Fools follow feelings and personal aggrandizement full of angst and destructive non-solutions.
It is true in our world today that "the insane are running the asylum." In the schools and government, we see continual ridiculous non-solutions being proposed based on nothing other than feelings.
Proverbs 17:12
"It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly."
Ecclesiastes 10:13
"The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness."
The good news is that God has a solution for our eternity. We will not see our world change in these end times only growing worse, but we as born-again believers have hope as Christ in us reminds us daily of our inheritance with Him where we will experience non-stop love, kindness, goodness, empathy, and all the fruit of the Spirit in everyone. This will only happen in heaven and on the new earth when Christ rules. And, best of all we will be with Christ face to face, the One Who loved us so much He died for us. I cannot think of anything more exciting than this!!!!
For now, it is our job to tell others who have not been saved from hell, that they too can have what the born-again believer has if they will place their trust in Jesus Christ. They must confess their sinfulness and ask Christ to change them into a new creation, then they will have this amazing inheritance too.
This life is full of hardship for everyone, but in Christ, we have joy through it all as He goes through with us. Everything that happens to us has a purpose and strengthens us.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 "…8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. 10 That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
The devil makes those he dominates weak and helpless, Christ gives life and strength beyond our own abilities.
