The depravity of man
It’s nothing new
Voltaire, Swift, Dryden, Behn, Johnson, Pope – they all recognized this problem
Like a corrosive acid, the stench and ugliness of our fallenness burns a jagged hole in my heart
Confusion clouds my understanding
Frustration pushes me to my limits
Exasperation expresses itself through impatience
Short tempers are incipient and snapping becomes a habit
My own selfishness and self righteousness disgust me
I find I have become as sanctimonious as all the people I labeled
Cliché Christianity and self gratifying, shallow faith has become a trend
Respect for God our Creator as been lost
The prosperity Gospel is being preached because it is what people want to hear
Lights! Sound systems! Video streaming and excellent atmospheres
Thousands to millions of dollars spent on equipment!
All for the momentary emotional experience
We don’t sense God; we fool ourselves into thinking we do
Our feelings cause us to cry out to be used and broken for the Gospel
We surrender out of compellation and then snatch it back
Our main focus is ourselves
We criticize the sermon
We attack the speaker
We pick out what we like and discard what we dislike
We enjoy the well performed and energy boosting charisma, but feel empty towards the simple yet heartfelt
We idolize icons and highly esteemed figures
The impact of church services loses all meaning and significance the moment we walk out of the building
We’re sobered. We’re filled with guilt. We are convicted. We are touched. So what?!
The Holy Spirit becomes nothing more than a suppressed and ignored conscience
We fall on our knees at the altar and squeeze tears out of our eyes
We are driven by the crowd
We are convinced by the words of a pastor
We indulge in luxury and attention
We sulk at the lack thereof
“God is good!” becomes a phrase that anticipates an enthusiastic “AMEN!”
“God is awesome!” becomes something we say when there is nothing to say
“God bless you!” becomes an acronym!
Jesus Christ – the great I AM –Yeshua – Jehovah – The name the Israelites would not even mention out of reverence and fear of this mighty and powerful God is now “JC”
We sing praises to God but defile Him with our thoughts and words in the same breath
We are hypocritical and wonder why the world looks at us with no desire to be like us in any way
We judge
We complain
We argue and bicker and fight over petty nonissues
We take offense easily but throw out insults at others without thought
We forget the Cross and Calvary
We feel bad for what Jesus had to do
We cheer at the resurrection
We thank God for salvation but neglect our responsibility
We fail to remember that worship goes beyond music in the sanctuary
We seek to glorify our own image
To enlarge our social circle rather than God’s Kingdom
To satisfy our selfish desires rather than God’s perfect will
To fulfill our personal tasks rather than God’s mandate for us
The holy covenant between us and God is treated like a casual handshake
We take advantage of the torn veil
The Word of God has become a chore to read
The hunger and thirst for worldly pleasures has replaced the hunger and thirst for Christ
Whatever happened to the ache for the lost?
Whatever happened to sorrow for the broken?
When was reverence for the Maker of the universe destroyed?
Are we being good stewards of the resources God has blessed us with?
When will we finally take up our crosses without casting them aside when they get too heavy?
When will we take denying ourselves seriously?
When will repentance and a contrite spirit become a continuous process?
How long will it be before we say enough is enough and get over ourselves?
Did you read all of these, agree and then exclude yourself from it all?
Did you grimly shake your head and think how sad this whole situation is?
Will you make an effort to start changing the faults you know you have?
Will you make it priority to pray for the cleansing of your heart before picking out the speck in your brother’s eye?
When are we going to own up to our faults and confess Christ as our only reason for life?
I will admit. I have done all of the above rotten and corrupt actions that cheapen the Gospel and disappoint the Lord. But our God is faithful and just. He is forgiving and His mercy knows no bounds. His patience is unfailing and His love is abiding. He will never leave nor forsake us. He has called us His sons and daughters.
He has honored us by taking on the human form and has put Himself to shame and separation from the Father to redeem us from eternal damnation. His will is perfect. He is sovereign. We are not to question. We are to obey.
Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,
Or the golden bowl is broken,
Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain,
Or the wheel broken at the well.
Then the dust will return to the earth as it was,
And the spirit will return to God who gave it.
“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.”
And further, my son, be admonished by these.
Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.
(Ecclesiastes12: 6-8, 12-14)
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Esperanza Ng
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