Us First…

No one has to tell you that what we see in our society and what we are witnessing around the world runs counter to the Biblical principles set forward by God.  I know that there are good people out there (because I see them in the church), I know that there are non-Christians who are morally good. But sadly these are not the norm.

You only have to watch the news for a few minutes to hear that all is not well in Camelot. Frankly we should not be surprised. We (as a nation) allow for an “anything goes” attitude, we call sin a “personal choice” and then when someone goes through emotional problems they want to blame their past, their parents or the public. We, the people, in order to form a supposedly perfect nation allow any principle, any action, and any behavior to go unchecked in the name of personal freedom as if corporate responsibility is of no issue.

Where in the world did we get this idea that our behavior was someone else’s fault? When did we start to believe that we could do anything, live anyway and not expect serious consequences?

The bottom line answer is when we took God not out of schools but when we took God and His Word out of life. Somewhere along the way we became like the children of Israel, we cursed the God who freed us and quit listening to His words.

I have said on occasion - “The world is going to hell in a hand basket...” and we believe that they need to get their act together. But think about it, why should THEY if we WON’T! That’s right, I said it – why should we expect a world who doesn’t know God to get their act together if those of us are called “Children of God” won’t get our act together and when we look just like they do.

In an attempt to attract the “them” – we have become like “them.” Don’t think that “them” cannot see it, that they cannot see through our hypocrisy.

But wait – there’s more – What if we started to live biblically? What if we returned to this call to righteousness and holiness that God wants of us? What if we made decisions based on biblical principle? What if we loved God with all the heart, mind and soul? What if we lived a life that was striving to live by God’s instruction instead of our own “pleasures”?               What if we acted and lived like we said we believed!?!

It’s not legalism is “loveism.” It’s loving God and loving people (while not buying into sinful actions) and then living like it.

It’s putting God at the center of EVERY aspect of your life. It’s reaping the spiritual maturity and confidence in life, its gaining real blessings – both tangible and intangible.

I believe that God is calling His Church, His Children to return to righteousness, return to holiness, to live like aliens in a strange land. We have no excuse not to. Trust me, I have tried to come up with my own list of decisive arguments that would free me from this call – but every one I come with God comes back with a better one. In His call to “come now let us reason together” I have found that His reasoning is much better than mine!

It is time to get real – it is time to return to holy and right living... then and only then will we begin to see the nation, the world change.