Monday, October 23, 2006
These Lying Times....Finding Truth in Satan's World
These Lying Times....Finding Truth in Satan's World
By Carl G Loy
10/19/06
Truth has become so scarce in the public arena that one has to wonder if it is also lost in the hearts and minds of those who claim to be Christians, also. There is little doubt that most Christians are deceived. They are deceived in so many ways one has to wonder if they ever study the Teachings they profess to follow. I rarely meet a Christian that I would see as very much different than those I meet who are not. Of course, there are the few exceptions that I recognize as somewhat different and somewhat devoted to their beliefs. Christians are generally little different than their secular counterparts. We are all susceptible to the same
human weaknesses to some extent. We become less susceptible as we study His Word and grow in Faith. The Christian who does study diligently and does attempt to truly follow Biblical Teachings will find less propensity to indulge in the enticements of the world. Controlling human tendencies is never automatically or fully achieved by anyone of us. Just think how difficult it is to control thought. It may seem easy to control the actions that the thoughts might generate, but we never fully control our thoughts. Like an alcoholic who refrains from being in the company of drinkers, those who wish to inhibit unclean or unrighteous thoughts need to shun those influences that are counter productive to a clean mind. In today's society, that might seem impossible, but we can do the best we can.
The loss of shame seems to be a dominant characteristic of today's society. Christians have also been affected by a loss of shame. We may rarely think of having thoughts of which we should be ashamed, but I doubt that anyone can go thru a day without a thought of which they should be ashamed. We may not have acted upon those thoughts, but that does not mean that the thoughts were not shameful. Perhaps we had moments when we were greedy in thought, or lustful, or unwarranted anger took over. We are all plagued with thoughts for which we should seek forgiveness.
When shameful thoughts become the basis for action, it is usually the tongue that is the culprit. A wicked tongue is the result of shameful thought. Often, this requires that we ask forgiveness both from God and from the recipient of the tongue. We learn humility at times like that. I confess that my thoughts can, too often, be the basis for things I'd like to say, things that can be hurtful to someone else, but I have learned to restrain the tongue, usually; not always. If we stick to His Truths, we have no need to apologize for the words uttered, but only for the tongue, if in the manner and tone it was used to say it, we were rude. We should never apologize for Truth. We should never compromise Truth. If we keep our focus on Truth, our thoughts will be less prone to be shameful. Unfortunately even acts thought shameful just a few years ago are routinely and unashamedly accepted today.
Another characteristic of today's society and of Christians as well, is a loss of modesty. We are not very courteous or mannerly compared to some few years ago. We have sought the self-gratifications of the world and yet we never seem satisfied. Our needs may be few, but we want more and more. We have become a greedy and selfish lot. Our charitable giving depends upon the tax deductible benefit. We are braggarts and gossipers. We neither study His Word, nor often sincerely pray...that is, unless we face some dire situation or want something really badly. There are those who will prayerfully beg of the Lord, and then pick up People magazine, rather than dust off their Bible. Our political system seems to grow in wickedness and corruption is rampant among these unrighteous office holders. Like government, our corporations seem to have no regard for truth or honesty and the dollar profits are the ends that justify the means. Churches are not teaching true doctrine and you'll rarely find shame and modesty addressed there. Government schools are nothing but indoctrination camps to possess our children. Satan seems to have his way in every way.
The truth is scarce because Satan does not intend to allow truth a place in his world. The Bible says that Lucifer and his angels were cast out into the earth. When the Bible refers to the "god of this world" It is not speaking of the heavenly Father. It speaks of the god of this world who blinds the mind of them who see not, lest they see the light of His Truth, the gospel, and it shine upon them. Jesus Christ refers to Satan as the "Prince of this world." If Satan was not the ruler of this world, how would he have had the power and wherewithal to tempt Jesus Christ in the Garden? He offered Jesus bribes that only the ruler of the earth could offer. He offered Jesus the existing Kingdoms on earth. Jesus rebuked Satan, but He did not challenge his authority over the kingdoms of the earth. Jesus rebuked Satan regarding who he was to worship, but at no time did he deny to Satan his ability to deliver unto him the Kingdoms, (nations, governments), of this world. If Satan had not owned the kingdoms of this world, his bribe, or offer would not have been a temptation at all. So, those who scoff at the idea that God is not the authority over this world, have no scripturally basis for so doing. Satan was delivered the ownership of the earth and it is his to give or not to give, and that is why he could use that authority as a temptation to Jesus. Now, if Satan has the powers given him to rule the world and he is said to deceive the whole world, where does that leave us? We are told that Jesus cast out demons. These demons were the fallen angels who took control over a person. If Satan's demons could possess someone, they obviously had that power given them. It took a greater power to throw them out, which is what Jesus did. And that's how we are left. We are deceived. We are living in Satan's world. We are not even told that we are to try to change Satan's world. We are left with the Power of Jesus to see us thru this world of Satan's and to open our eyes and ears so that His Truth will prevail over all that deceives us. And then we are to tell others what we have found and how it can save our souls from what Satan has planned for us. Looking to government, which is ruled by Satan the god of this world and the god over all governments, for any need, is to turn from the true God and seek the benefits offered by Satan. So reader, where do you go for your needs?
By Carl G Loy
10/19/06
Truth has become so scarce in the public arena that one has to wonder if it is also lost in the hearts and minds of those who claim to be Christians, also. There is little doubt that most Christians are deceived. They are deceived in so many ways one has to wonder if they ever study the Teachings they profess to follow. I rarely meet a Christian that I would see as very much different than those I meet who are not. Of course, there are the few exceptions that I recognize as somewhat different and somewhat devoted to their beliefs. Christians are generally little different than their secular counterparts. We are all susceptible to the same
human weaknesses to some extent. We become less susceptible as we study His Word and grow in Faith. The Christian who does study diligently and does attempt to truly follow Biblical Teachings will find less propensity to indulge in the enticements of the world. Controlling human tendencies is never automatically or fully achieved by anyone of us. Just think how difficult it is to control thought. It may seem easy to control the actions that the thoughts might generate, but we never fully control our thoughts. Like an alcoholic who refrains from being in the company of drinkers, those who wish to inhibit unclean or unrighteous thoughts need to shun those influences that are counter productive to a clean mind. In today's society, that might seem impossible, but we can do the best we can.
The loss of shame seems to be a dominant characteristic of today's society. Christians have also been affected by a loss of shame. We may rarely think of having thoughts of which we should be ashamed, but I doubt that anyone can go thru a day without a thought of which they should be ashamed. We may not have acted upon those thoughts, but that does not mean that the thoughts were not shameful. Perhaps we had moments when we were greedy in thought, or lustful, or unwarranted anger took over. We are all plagued with thoughts for which we should seek forgiveness.
When shameful thoughts become the basis for action, it is usually the tongue that is the culprit. A wicked tongue is the result of shameful thought. Often, this requires that we ask forgiveness both from God and from the recipient of the tongue. We learn humility at times like that. I confess that my thoughts can, too often, be the basis for things I'd like to say, things that can be hurtful to someone else, but I have learned to restrain the tongue, usually; not always. If we stick to His Truths, we have no need to apologize for the words uttered, but only for the tongue, if in the manner and tone it was used to say it, we were rude. We should never apologize for Truth. We should never compromise Truth. If we keep our focus on Truth, our thoughts will be less prone to be shameful. Unfortunately even acts thought shameful just a few years ago are routinely and unashamedly accepted today.
Another characteristic of today's society and of Christians as well, is a loss of modesty. We are not very courteous or mannerly compared to some few years ago. We have sought the self-gratifications of the world and yet we never seem satisfied. Our needs may be few, but we want more and more. We have become a greedy and selfish lot. Our charitable giving depends upon the tax deductible benefit. We are braggarts and gossipers. We neither study His Word, nor often sincerely pray...that is, unless we face some dire situation or want something really badly. There are those who will prayerfully beg of the Lord, and then pick up People magazine, rather than dust off their Bible. Our political system seems to grow in wickedness and corruption is rampant among these unrighteous office holders. Like government, our corporations seem to have no regard for truth or honesty and the dollar profits are the ends that justify the means. Churches are not teaching true doctrine and you'll rarely find shame and modesty addressed there. Government schools are nothing but indoctrination camps to possess our children. Satan seems to have his way in every way.
The truth is scarce because Satan does not intend to allow truth a place in his world. The Bible says that Lucifer and his angels were cast out into the earth. When the Bible refers to the "god of this world" It is not speaking of the heavenly Father. It speaks of the god of this world who blinds the mind of them who see not, lest they see the light of His Truth, the gospel, and it shine upon them. Jesus Christ refers to Satan as the "Prince of this world." If Satan was not the ruler of this world, how would he have had the power and wherewithal to tempt Jesus Christ in the Garden? He offered Jesus bribes that only the ruler of the earth could offer. He offered Jesus the existing Kingdoms on earth. Jesus rebuked Satan, but He did not challenge his authority over the kingdoms of the earth. Jesus rebuked Satan regarding who he was to worship, but at no time did he deny to Satan his ability to deliver unto him the Kingdoms, (nations, governments), of this world. If Satan had not owned the kingdoms of this world, his bribe, or offer would not have been a temptation at all. So, those who scoff at the idea that God is not the authority over this world, have no scripturally basis for so doing. Satan was delivered the ownership of the earth and it is his to give or not to give, and that is why he could use that authority as a temptation to Jesus. Now, if Satan has the powers given him to rule the world and he is said to deceive the whole world, where does that leave us? We are told that Jesus cast out demons. These demons were the fallen angels who took control over a person. If Satan's demons could possess someone, they obviously had that power given them. It took a greater power to throw them out, which is what Jesus did. And that's how we are left. We are deceived. We are living in Satan's world. We are not even told that we are to try to change Satan's world. We are left with the Power of Jesus to see us thru this world of Satan's and to open our eyes and ears so that His Truth will prevail over all that deceives us. And then we are to tell others what we have found and how it can save our souls from what Satan has planned for us. Looking to government, which is ruled by Satan the god of this world and the god over all governments, for any need, is to turn from the true God and seek the benefits offered by Satan. So reader, where do you go for your needs?
