Getting Old

“For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:8).

Many are led to believe that as long as we are staying the same then we are not changing. But this is as wrong as a three dollar bill. The truth of the matter is that if we are not growing then we are getting worse. The world is slipping down the slippery slope of sin and has become so hardened to God’s truth that they cannot even see this tragedy taking place. If you somehow do not believe this just look at what people are watching on TV these days. At one time there was a popular television show about a Genie who had been found by an astronaut. He brought her home and she remained living in her lamp. The producer of the show had to make sure that everyone knew that she was sleeping in her lamp and not sleeping in the house in which the Air Force Major lived. If this was not made clear to the audience then the show could not go on.

What a sharp contrast to what it is we see on television today. Every form of immorality can be seen on most channels today. Everything from adulterous situations to even same sex partnerships and even multi partner episodes of relations can be viewed. This is Satan’s way of getting us to accept this as a tolerable way of life, and judging from the evidence, he has been very successful. Satan has been very crafty since the beginning and has been very effective in deceiving the world. What could have we done as a nation to stop this from happening?

The first resolution has to be learning where we lost our focus. When this nation began, the founding fathers had their aim on God’s word. And although not totally correct in their understanding, they were persuaded by the godly values biblical truth holds. But somewhere along the road we managed to get off track. Maybe it was for the same reason the Hebrew nation lost its way: “And I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen'” (Jeremiah 6:17). God has blasted the trumpet of warning going back to the ancient days of creation. His path of righteousness was once followed by ancient folks such as Abel, yet the world continues in its downward spiral because it will not heed His warnings. How far will the nations allow this to continue? When will we as a people learn that God wants us to follow His word because this is the only way to live in peace with Him? Losing our first love as a nation will be just as harsh for us as it was for the church in Ephesus (Revelation 2:4).

Peter was a trumpet of the Lord when he blasted God’s warning of complacency. In the first chapter of Second Peter he wrote in verse eight that we are to be “increasing” in the qualities of holiness. Many believe that as long as we are not “backsliding” we are doing well. Well this is simply a denial of the trumpet of the Lord. He warns us not to be comfortable in our understanding of His truth. We must always be seeking ways to deepen our understanding of what His way, truth and life (John 14:6) mean to us and our relationship with our Creator. He has promised to lead the faithful to a place of rest, but only the faithful. The faithful are the ones who are “diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). The trumpet of the Lord has warned against complacency yet the world seeks a different knowledge than what will lead them out of judgment. But the church can be a light to this perverse generation by diligently seeking the ancient paths and walking in them (Jeremiah 6:16). Never grow tired of learning about God and His way of life. Never grow weary of speaking of Hi great might. It will be beneficial to all.

In His Grace,
Cub