I believe ... ... ... that the reason that the world is in the state it is in these days is because too many people have ceased to believe.
There was a time, yonks ago, when people believed in things. And that belief, however true, or however tenuous, kept people focussed, either individually or collectively, and the benefit or outcome of that focus was for the good of society in general.
Wait a minute till I read that last paragraph again. You might wish to do the same. I think it is important in what I am about to say next.
You see ... in far away times, people believed in things. They believed they should work hard and better themselves. They believed in the family. Looking after their own ... wives, children, siblings, parents or grand-parents. They believed in education. They believed in country. They believed in society ... we're all in this together and all that ... only then, they truly meant it.
They believed in responsibility. Theirs as well as that of others. They knew the difference between right and wrong. They encouraged the former and punished the latter.
Some even believed in God ... many more than these days it seems. They believed in His omnipotence as Creator of everything. They obeyed His rules. Some believed in Jesus His only Son.
In them days I speak of, they also believed in the devil; for he exists all right. You can't believe in God and not believe in the devil.
They also believed in Heaven and hell. In a final judgement. They even believed in eternal life after our physical bodily death.
And then things changed ... gradually but surely ... they changed.
I don't think people believe in anything these days.
I doubt many believe in personal responsibility. Whatever happens in life it is always someone else's fault. The Government, my parents, my teachers, the education system, my health, my bad luck, God even ... it is His fault that this is happening to me ... it is never my personal responsibility.
They certainly don't believe in the family considering the increasing number of divorces, children born out of wedlock, dysfunctional families, uncaring parents and children and so on. Not forgetting of course abortions, euthanasia and the increasing number of elderly people left to fend for themselves or packed into a care home to look after them. I guess a good slogan for such homes should be "We care so you don't have to!"
People don't believe in, or know, right from wrong any more. It is all right to do this as long as I am not found out. It isn't wrong really.
They don't believe in society. There is no such thing as society, country or collective loyalty. It is all me ... me ... me ... As long as I am OK and I can do my thing my way.
Many certainly do not believe in God any more.
The tenets of life have become easy and simple. We are born. We live. We die. Period. Full stop.
There is no such thing as Heaven or hell. A God with a beard sitting on a cloud somewhere judging people. Sending some to hell; where devils with horns and tails, wielding three pronged forks, prick people in the backside as they push them into fiery furnaces. The imagery of burning fires consuming tortured souls no longer holds much credence these days.
People generally no longer believe in all that. It is stuff of folklore. Legends. You might as well believe in tooth fairies or other such tales.
People no longer consider the devil as an evil spirit intent on wreaking havoc and chaos throughout the world. They don't believe it because they don't necessarily believe in spirits ... souls. They don't even believe they themselves have a soul (spirit); how can they be expected to believe in good and evil spirits like angels and demons?
The main focus in life these days seems simple enough. Materialism. Consumerism. Comfort. Possessions. Gratification ... I'll leave you to add some more words here ...
Of course, I am not saying that everyone is behaving in the way I have described; but it seems to me that the pendulum is fast swinging towards a significant number to make a difference throughout the world.
The devil ... I guess he is silently smiling.
God, I believe, is still in control of events, and will always be. He is allowing it to happen because in a way, we have asked Him to. We have told Him, in no uncertain terms, to keep out of our lives.
Let us not test His mercy and patience too much.
...believing in decency would be a good start!
ReplyDeleteYes it would
DeleteYou are both right.
DeleteGod bless, Tom and R.
"Materialism. Consumerism. Comfort. Possessions. Gratification..."
ReplyDeleteFunny how these are things that have begun to fall away during the shutdown.
Only to start again as before ... just you wait.
DeleteGod bless you, Sandi.
Powerful truths here, Victor. Someone, stop the pendulum!
ReplyDeleteI wish.
DeleteHope you are well, Mevely. God bless.
So true. I think if God's people will turn from their wicked ways and repent, starting with compromise in churches that would be a good step forward. God has been patient with our countries with all the wickedness, especially with abortion and euthanasia as you write, it's unbelievable. In our state we have a governor who has made a bad turn and no one seems to be rising up against him. It's frightening but praying hard. God hears our prayers, and there is so much to pray about right?
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post Victor, blessings to you!
Yes Amelia, there is so much to pray about. But we should pray with conviction. We should really believe that God is listening, that He cares and that He will respond. Our prayers should not be just routine prayers for the sake of praying. Do we ... who claim to believe ... really believe?
DeleteGod bless, Amelia.
Amen, Yes-sirrie-bobbie I believe! : ) God has answered so many prayers that others may seem to think are far reached. It's hard going through it and I always feel like a baby, but I pray telling God all about it, when we look back we see what great things God has done. I think back to what people went through in WWII and how close the U.S came to eating sushi as an old vet's wife shared with me. Things looked so dark, so very dark but many were praying. My prayers are always very personal to the Father, never by rote. Also, "If my people will turn from their wicked ways *then* I will hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
DeleteThanks for the exhortation, so true! God bless you Victor, you're one of a kind! : )
You are very kind, Amelia. I am not special in any way. I just write as best I can.
DeleteGod bless you.
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteYes, as the dictators that function as the devil's henchmen are slowly taking away men's personal freedoms in the name of 'safety', maybe some people will wake up! Societal decay and lacks a moral compass has been going on for several decades now. The word God has been removed here in the USA from almost anything. Our President Trump is being mocked for believing and still using the word God!
Others that only fill their ever deeper pockets of Greed, of course did away completely with all morals, just to justify their own actions!
May God be with us and our Brave President who works for FREE and who could have had a posh life on his own... A true Patriot and yet the devil's henchmen 'Media' at all blame him for anything they can think of.
We always used this simple example about the modern blame game. Look at your own hand, by finger pointing at somebody else, you use your index finger while all other fingers point towards YOU!
They all grinned and had no defence against it, as it is the truth.
May we pray hard that God will protect those that still do believe and protect those that still are honest and sincere and looking after others!
Hugs,
Mariette
As I mentioned to Amelia, (above), our prayers should be in faith and in the full knowledge that God knows what is in peoples' hearts. Let us learn from the past ... God was there in our lives. He is present now and will lead us in the future.
DeleteGod bless, Mariette.
A big AMEN to that!🎚
DeleteWhen people turn away from God, from Jesus, they are setting out surely for the gates of hell. I'm praying that God will convince many to turn and repent in these crazy days.
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Victor!
Agreed Martha. We need to pray more than ever before.
DeleteGod bless you always.
Change will come only if people truly want it. They can ask God for guidance but it's up to each and every one to make that decision. No one will listen unless they want to. If the world continues on the path it is today, the end will be closer than we think. It cannot continue like this any longer without grave results.
ReplyDeleteYou are right, Bill. In their hearts, people do not seem to want change. They are comfortable in the way things are today with consumerism, selfishness and all the good things that are available these days. We want it and we want it now seems to be the motto of the day.
DeleteGod bless you my friend.
So true. I believe the further we as a people get away from God the worse it will get.
ReplyDeleteGood has become bad and bad has become good for so many people.
People have not only lost their moral compass, they do not know where to look for it.
ReplyDeleteGod bless, Happyone.
It is so sad, this situation. He loves us enough to respect our choices, as He does not want robots but children who want to love Him back.
ReplyDeleteYes, we are so cruel in our stupidity.
DeleteGod bless, Mimi.
I think it must seem easier to shove any sincere beliefs to the side if they conflict with what they see happening. It makes them feel as if they are in control of their lives. They never have been, but this somehow takes away their fears.
ReplyDeleteGod loves us, created us, provided us with all that could be wanted or needed. Christ delivered us through His sacrifice. If only....
It is the ultimate struggle; man wants to be in control of his own destiny. And God lets him be.
DeleteGod bless, Susan.