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Moving Toward Or
Away From God
As a society
of people, we are either moving toward God or away
from Him.
There are
certain characteristics to observe in those who
belong to the "Me Generation" or the "Lord's
Generation."
We are either
living for Self and pleasure or for God and the
furtherance of His Kingdom.
Into which
category do you fall today?
2 Peter 3:3 tells us that
"in the last days" we would
find "scoffers,
walking after their own lusts."
In 2 Peter 2:10, the Apostle Peter
proceeds to describe the
"unjust"
in this way - "But
chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust
of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous
are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak
evil of dignities."
In Jude 16 and 18,
the Apostle Jude adds his depiction of the
"ungodly"
- "These are
murmurers, complainers, walking after their own
lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling
words, having men's persons in admiration because of
advantage...there should be mockers in the last
time, who should walk after their own ungodly
lusts."
On the other hand, in 2 Corinthians 4:2,
Paul outlined a people living for God with these
words - "But have
renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not
walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God
deceitfully; but, by manifestation of the truth,
commending ourselves to every man's conscience in
the sight of God."
What were these
three men of God - Peter, Jude, and Paul - telling
us?
What kind of
people can we look for in these Last Days'?
a) Scoffers
These are the ones who have no desire for the Truth
or the knowledge of the Scriptures. In fact, they
laugh at and ridicule its basic doctrines - while at
the same time making a mockery of all sin.
b) Walk After Their Own Lusts
These follow after the desires of their own corrupt
heart and carnal affections...live in free and
unlimited indulgence of their sensual appetites and
passions...do every thing ungodly that they can
imagine...live solely to fulfill their
self-indulgent desires...are intensely
selfish...ridicule any measures of restraint from
God's law...and establish their own pleasures and
wild, disorderly, and impure passions as their
sole rule of conduct.
c) Walk In The Lust Of Uncleanness
These people are utterly defiled - craving after the
unlawful acts of fleshly indulgence and pleasure.
d) Despisers Of Government
These hold all authority in contempt...live in an
unrestrained indulgence of their evil
propensities...consider all government as being
evil...and practice every imaginable abomination.
e) Presumptuous
These are the ones who are proud, obstinate,
headstrong, bold, and daring. They recklessly defy
both God and man.
f) Self-willed
These desire to be under no control whatsoever.
g) Blasphemers
These spurn all human authority - speaking
contemptuously of those who are in any rank,
station, or office.
h) Murmurers
Here we have the constant gripers who find fault
with God's Providence - His plans, purposes, and
doings. They are continuously angry with the various
happenings in their lives.
i) Complainers
Like the murmurers, these people are never satisfied
- they are always finding fault with their
particular lot in life. They compare their
situations with that of others and resultantly,
blame God for the seeming differences.
j) Speak Great Swelling Words
These people are loud mouths and showoffs.
k) Flatterers
Here we have the people who show great respect for
certain ones - particularly the rich and great - in
order to promote a selfish end - to acquire money,
power, position, or influence.
These characteristics depict the
"unjust" and the
"ungodly."
But what about
those who are living for God?
a) Renounced The Hidden Things Of Dishonesty
These are the ones who despise, refuse, forbid, or
speak out against all dishonest schemes or
plans...secret acts...hidden things...disgraceful
conduct... or underhanded dealings.
b) Do Not Walk In Craftiness
They do not operate under a disguise but rather in a
open, plain, or straightforward way. Their course of
life and manner of preaching is free from all
mixture.
c) Do Not Corrupt The Word Of God
They do not - falsify or twist the Truth in order to
appeal to the masses...explain it away in order to
make it user-friendly...or turn with the shifting
winds of popular opinion. Nor do they attempt to
blunt the edge of the Sword of the Spirit - the Word
of God - in order to soften or excuse sin. On the
contrary, they attack the vices of their day head-on
in an undisguised and bold manner.
As a society of
people, we are either moving toward God or away
from Him.
What about
you, O Christian?
Is your life
marked with various lusts or more and more
restraints on your flesh?
In your daily
choices, are you embracing the lie or drawing
closer to the Truth?
We are
either living for Self and pleasure or for
God and the furtherance of His Kingdom.
Into
which category do you fall today?
May God Bless His Word.
Connie
| © COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
