The Lower Lights - Sept 2002

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THE

LOWER

LIGHTS

Alan Jones, Editor

(734) 942-7956

"Brightly beams our Father's mercy

From the lighthouse evermore;

But to us He gives the keeping

Of the light along the shore."

Published monthly by the church of Christ, 35900 Palmer Road, P.O. Box 86-233, Westland, MI 48166

Volume 2 September 2002 No3

THEY DIDN’T CARE!!

Imagine living in a world where all men and women thought about was evil all the time. Noah did (Gen 6:5). The earth was filled with violence (6:11). But, there was a root to this wickedness, a problem that prompted God to flood the world, sparing only Noah and his family.

Lot lived in the city of Sodom. This righteous man was tormented every day by all the evil that he had to see and listen to (2 Pet 2:5-8). Most notable among the sins of Sodom was homosexuality. Lusts so controlled the citizens of this city that when new men (actually angels in the form of men) came to town, ALL the men of Sodom turned up at Lot’s door and demanded that he turn them over to them so that they might fulfill their lusts (Gen 19:1-11). But, there was a root to this wickedness, a problem that prompted God to rain fire and brimstone on Sodom, saving only Lot and his two daughters.

Jesus used the world of Noah and the city of Sodom to illustrate what the conditions would be in Jerusalem when He came against it in judgment (Lk 17:26-30). When we read His comments, we see what was the common underlying problem in the societies of Noah and Lot. At the time when the flood came, just what were men doing? “They were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage.” Up to the day when God destroyed Sodom, just what were the men of that city doing? “They were eating, they were

drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building.”

Our first reaction to Jesus’ statements about their behavior might be, “So what were these men doing wrong? They were just busy with the ordinary things of life.” But, that was exactly the problem. Men were so consumed themselves with the daily cares of life that they had no thoughts of God. Judgment was impending, but they were busy “living”, unconcerned about their standing with God. They took no time for reflection to see if repentance might be in order. So, God’s judgment came and found them unprepared.

The attitude that these two societies showed by occupying themselves with only the worldly details of life was at the root of their wicked behavior. Man’s journey away from God begins when he leaves God and His standard of righteousness out of his thoughts. When men live as though God does not exist, the result is a world of low morality. Sin runs rampant and unchecked. (Rom 1:18-32)

If men do not acknowledge Him, God gives men over to their lusts (Rom 1:24,26,28). From minds who did not acknowledge God came the violent acts that filled Noah’s world and the unnatural sexual desires which consumed the men of Sodom (Rom 1:18-32). In one word, what destroyed these two societies? Indifference. When it came to God, His law, and His judgment- they didn’t care!!

DO YOU CARE?

Our world, not unlike the societies of Noah and Lot, is a very busy place. As the saying goes, everyone’s “got places to go, people to see, and things to do.”

The young are occupied with their education, video games, and soccer matches. Eventually, they choose and pursue a career. Most also pursue that special someone in order to “marry” or to be “given in marriage”.

The middle-aged are devoted to work and the raising of a family. There is much “buying and selling, planting, and building” going on to provide the best life for the present and to save money ahead for the children’s education and retirement.

Older men and women find that after they have retired their schedules are just as full as before. Most still are busy with things that could be called “work”. Some attain the ideal in the world’s eyes and fill their days with “eating and drinking”, as they tour the country in their Winnebego.

Lost in all this is God. Too many are busy “living” while God is forgotten from the cradle to the grave. And, the more this is the case, the

more immoral society becomes. Do you wonder why we see all the horrible things people in Metro Detroit do to each other every night on the news? The same word that applied to the societies of Noah and Lot applies to ours as well- indifference. We refuse to have God in our knowledge. We live anyway we want. We do not think of His judgment, much less, fear it. We’re busy “living”. We just don’t care!!

What about you? Do you think of God, His standard of righteousness, and His judgment? Or are you just busy “living”, doing as you please and thinking nothing of it? Learn from God’s judgment the world of Noah and the city of Sodom. You must not get wrapped up in the ordinary cares of life, missing the very reason you are living on the earth- to fear God, keep His commandments, and prepare for His judgment. (Eccl 12:13-14). Pay attention to God and the gospel of His Son before it is too late, His wrath comes on you and you are eternally separated from Him in hell (2 Thess 1:7-9).

Let us help you to this end. Put aside your “buying and selling” and “planting and building” and come and be with us for this series of gospel sermons: