Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
- Romans 12:1-2 NASB
If you remember Jesus's words...Would He find the faith when He returns...my mind is drawn to that when I read what Paul said in Romans 12.
Some things dawned on me last night. Not that I was particularly interested in renting movies to catch it all, but rather I was shown the extent of the types of distractions Satan puts in this world to keep our minds off of God.
I have been accused of taking things too seriously concerning God before. Which is rather interesting. Verse 2 of Chapter 12 in Romans seems to show what God expects. The Scriptures tell of the Berean church. How they, as a group, poured over all the words of the Apostles in order to verify the truth. They obviously consulted Jesus in prayer. They met to talk about it. Their focus was on finding the truth.
So what about this world we live in? Have you yet to see a Church do that? Have you seen a group of believers meet every day to dig into the Scriptures? Seen them devoted to prayer?
We live in a world where there are well beyond a thousand times more distractions to believers than it was a hundred years ago. Consider that statement. That would be 1919. We don't even need to go farther than that. Science was gaining momentum, but scientists were mostly believers. So what was happening? They introduced more unbelieving scientists who brought in things like Darwinism. God's Word was being pushed out of colleges and universities. They went from proof of God's hand in this Universe to trying to disprove He had anything to do with it.
How did this come to be? Distractions. Allowing schools of thought rather than opposing them. People not knowledgeable about Scripture. People not willing to stand up for what they believe in.
Start moving forward in this 100 years and a progression of sorts starts to show more and more distractions. People finding more to occupy their time and mind with than God's Word. Wars happening that really could be seen as judgments. Many a man and woman found themselves brought back to God the hard way. Revivals began happening. Surges in church growth.
But the distractions kept coming.
Come back to today. It's been quoted by the NFL as saying that Sunday's used to belong to the Church, now it belongs to them. It's extremely saddening to see that there's more faith in useless things like Sports, movie characters and worldly Scientists than in God...by supposed Christians! Think about it! Jokes abound of Pastors skipping church to go play golf. Most consider church attendance as fully optional. Not something they need.
You speak against God or the Scriptures and either they are silent or won't put up a fuss. Talk about 'their team' and WWIII will break out. Stinging barbs get said. Hate shows it's ugly head. They will get downright physical because you spoke ill of 'their team'. They laugh it off when you point that out. No, it's shocking, and showing the truth about the condition of their heart!
Their faith is flourishing in their god. Their zeal is in their god. Zeal is a passionate fervor for someone or something.
I hear it everywhere in the city in which I live. Speak ill of their team and you come close to serious threats. From believers!
A long time ago now, I have given up on rooting for any sports teams. I had come to realize they were idols. Yet before I had, I was told by a few that they would pray for me because I was not a fan of their team!
They would wear the logos of their idols to church. They wouldn't get passionate about studying God's word but would about their idol.
Distractions. Satan puts them everywhere. I have been trying to remove them from my life. I would rather have a deep discussion about God than anything else, to be truthful. I have a collection of movies. Some TV shows. Yet I have no desire to watch them again.
Truth.
Truth is...all these distractions have but one purpose. To keep people from getting to the truth!
Truth is...Jesus is coming back.
Truth is...not a single soul in Hell cares about any football team or supposed television superstar. They are ever aware of the fact that they are in torment because of sin.
Truth is...the so-called church is not being the Church. They are trying to make people feel good rather than teach the truth about sin and it's consequences!
Truth is...so few are trying to renew their minds in God's Word that the faith Jesus wants to see in people is slipping away.
Will He find the faith when He returns?
I don't see it now.
People reading this will scoff, and not believe it. That's another trick of Satan to deceive. Truth is...just what are you feeding your mind? Sports, movie characters information? Useless stuff rather than the living Word of God?
People will laugh at the things that are spoken of today in this post. Yet another proof that God isn't important to them anymore. Yes, I will come out and say it.
Throw the glove down. Call it for what it is.
If you are not in God's Word DAILY.
If you are not talking to Jesus REGULARLY.
If what bothers God doesn't bother YOU.
If ANYTHING in this world is more sacred to you than Jesus.
Then YOU are part of the problem with the Church.
Everyone who follows Christ will have trials...if you are not...then question it. Because you very well could be doing exactly what Satan wants and not what God wants of you.
Transform your mind by being in God's Word. Transform your life by being willing to be obedient to it.
Scripture says repeatedly to remove your idols. There is a reason it's repeated.
Take the time to reevaluate your life.
Return to obedience to God.
Repent and return. Jesus will take care of the rest.
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