Today's world is rapidly degenerating into a state similar to that before Noah's Flood. Violence and corruption of all kinds exist everywhere, and often to such a degree that even the most die-hard unbeliever looks on in horror. Many who think little or not at all about God are horrified by what is happening, and the phrase "What made you do this?" is often used. Acts such as child abuse, kidnapping, senseless murder, mass shootings of people in public places, and suicide bombings are becoming commonplace, not to mention internet and credit card fraud, identity theft, computer viruses, and financial fraud of all kinds, the list goes on and on.
In addition, relationships between men and women are deteriorating, and fornication and adultery are becoming almost the norm rather than the exception. In addition, homosexual relationships are becoming more common and same-sex partnerships are now becoming legal in many jurisdictions. The shift in public opinion on the subject has been one of the most significant and rapid moral declines in the history of nominally Christian nations. Once again, many are wondering why and what has caused such a marked deterioration in public thought and morale.
The question
As always, the answer is found in the Word of God, and it is very simple. When Adam and Eve were brought into the Garden of Eden they had the knowledge of God, but later a branch of their family, led by Cain, decided to "come out of the presence of the Lord" and let God out of their lives. . Later still, after the world was destroyed by a flood, Noah and his family regained a knowledge of the true God and saw what His power could do in judgment. But soon his offspring also became corrupt and began to worship idols. In Romans we read the following:
“For when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor did they give thanks to him. . . . “They pretended to be wise, became fools, and changed the glory of the immortal God into an image made like corruptible men, birds, quadrupeds, and reptiles.
"Therefore God also delivered them up to uncleanness for the lusts of their own hearts, that they might dishonor their own bodies among themselves."(Rom.1:21-2421 For when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor gave thanks to him; but they were puffed up in their reflections, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Pretending to be wise, they became fools 23 and changed the glory of the immortal God into an image made like corruptible man, birds, four-footed animals, and creeping animals. 24 Therefore God also delivered them up to uncleanness for the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies among themselves (Romans 1:21-24).).
The result
It is a principle with God that when God gives light to man and man rejects that light, God often allows him to see the results of his choices. When man renounces God, God renounces man and lets him see the effect of the path he has taken. We keep reading this because men"they worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator..."God gave them to shameful passions"(Rom.1:25-2625 Who turned the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creatures more than the ever blessed Creator. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to shameful passions; for even their wives changed the natural usage against what is against nature: (Romans 1:25-26)). Also,"Though they would not like to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a depraved spirit"(Rom.1:2828 And not pleasing to them to have God in their knowledge, God committed them to a depraved mind to do things that are not convenient; (Romans 1:28)).
So here we find the reason for the shocking decline in morality in the world and the staggering rise in violence and corruption everywhere. No doubt this has happened many times in the past, but today it is happening very quickly. Needless to say, the degeneration was most pronounced in those countries that had previously embraced Christianity, because the words of Judas have been fulfilled:"Godless people who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and deny God the only Lord and our Lord Jesus Christ."(Jude 4). Peter also reminds us of this tendency when he says:“It would have been better for them not to know the way of righteousness than, after knowing it, to depart from the holy commandment given them. ... "The dog returns to his own vomit and the washed sow to wallow in the mud"(2. Petrus 2:21-22).
So we need not be surprised at what is happening, although surely our hearts must be heavy as we see what happened to the one who once confessed the name of Christ. Countries that were once bastions of the gospel and from which countless missionaries set out to evangelize the world are now leaders in rejecting the word of God and even God himself. But God told us this would happen and I would suggest that it should have two effects on us.
two effects
First of all, we can see that the coming of the Lord is near. We are remindedHebrews 10:2525 Not neglecting to gather together, as some do out of habit; rather admonish one another, and the more so as that day approaches. (Hebrews 10:25)that we can "see the day near". If that day is the day of judgment, then the coming of the Lord is even nearer for us. Our hearts must look up, for His coming must be soon!
Second, we need to take even greater care of our personal, family, and congregational lives. As the state of the world around us becomes perverted, we must ensure that we become increasingly familiar with God's Word. We must constantly pray before the Lord, walk in communion with Him, lest we be surprised by the thought of the world in which we live and move. Unfortunately, an old poem can easily apply to the Christian:
"Vice is a monster with such a hideous expression on his face
As for hating, you just have to see it;
But seen too often, familiar with his face,
First we endure, then we pity each other
include."
The positive side
We must protect our own hearts, our families, our homes, and our local assemblies from all these degrading influences. But to these two things we mentioned above, let's add a third one. Instead of just going on the defensive, let's go on the offensive!Romans 12:2121 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:21)tells us: "Do not be defeated by evil, but overcome evil with good." The believer who is engaged in the gospel and seeks to devote his time to the Lord is not so easily conquered by the spirit of the world. The wife and husband who work together in the things of the Lord will have no time to be occupied with worldly things; they have something better. God wants us not only to be kept from the evil in the world, but also to be a shining witness of it. He will give us strength when we look at him.
WJ Prost