A Troubled And afflicted World

Faithful Christians are known for holding up their lives before all men to examine. (Matt. 5:16) They are the ones who hold the spiritual sword like a mighty warrior, without wavering. (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 10:23) And time and time again, Christians stand for The Truth. Therefore, it is no new thing when the world tries to tempt those who are not of the world with new ideas and innovations and that seem to be so delightful. Ever since man was conceived, there have been those who have stood against God inflicting their destructive behaviors upon the world and making a spectacle of him. We can read in the Old Testament about Cain, those in the days of Noah, Jezebel and many others who stood against God. Likewise, it is relevant to mention that the innocent are caught in the world’s crossfire of slinging hate and dishonor toward humanity and Christianity. Now, we know that one such man who got caught in the middle of this crossfire was Jesus Christ. We know that Jesus was gentle unless standing against the wrong and we know that the world killed him while he was trying to save them. Henceforth, people have continued to insult God and firmly stand against Him. Therefore, it is no great mystery that the world teaches against God and displays their actions outwardly and have displayed their rebellion very publically including a recent accusation by Rosie O’Donnell who claims that, Christians are murderers taking the lives of men, women and children while destroying countries. In addition to this, one such action that has recently been mentioned, is involving the very famous pop singer, Madonna. Time and time again she has wooed the audience with her flash and glitter enticing men, women and children. Therefore, NBC has decided to display a November 2006 special featuring Madonna. During this performance, she will be wearing a fake crown of thorns while suspended on a massive, descending, mirrored, disco ball type cross. Now after 750,000 emails have been logged to NBC, their continued response is, “We viewed it and didn’t see it as being inappropriate.” Now, this response can baffle the Christian’s mind since these are the same individuals who refused to show the Danish newspaper cartoons depicting Muhammad in a negative light. So, while NBC sees this as ratings, Madonna indicates to the world that this mocking of the crucifixion of Christ is the highlight of her show. Furthermore, in 1989, after the video for her song, “Like A Prayer” (which features burning crosses and herself representing a female Jesus freeing a saint from his sexual repression by seducing him) she is on record for saying, “Crucifixes are sexy because there’s a naked man (Jesus) on it.” Make no mistake my brethren, Satan is still very much alive in this world and media seems to be his favorite means of transmitting sin and tempting others toward it. All these things reminds me of what the apostle John wrote with such perfection. He told Christians to, “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. 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1 Jn. 2:15-17) My friends, brothers and sisters, we should all be very blessed that God has prepared a home for his faithful children where we will never again have our hearts tempted with such ignorance as sin. And one day, when the Lord descends from Heaven with a shout, he shall gather the faithful together with him in the air, “ . . . And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thess. 4:16-18) Robert Notgrass