I sometimes wonder if removing the televisions out of my house would be
a wise decision, because of the muck that is being televised. I believe that
old time evangelists from the past had the right message after televisions made
their debut when I was a youngster. They
preached with fervency that televisions were instruments of the devil, which I
now, wholeheartedly agree with. Their
prediction has become a reality in this day in which we live.
Trying to find a halfway descent show to watch is certainly a
challenge. Immorality and the decay of
decency are on the increase and have found their way into most everyone’s place
of abode via television and personal computers.
Little by little the negative influences of viewing ungodly programs are
becoming more acceptable in today’s homes than ever before in the history of
television.
(Solomon 2:15), “The little foxes that spoil the vines, for
our vines have tender grapes.”
When moral decency was recognized as a good thing and scrutinized to protect young, innocent minds, advertisements like “Cross Your Heart Bras” used a manikin to
demonstrate the features of the bra.
Young eyes were not filled with lewd vulgarity. But these precautions
are gradually being eliminated; a thing of the past when modesty was considered respectable.
Beautiful, well endowed women are the focal point of advertisements in
the present, because “sex” sells. This
is only one, small aspect of corruption that is taking over programming,
because producers know that filth is what most people want to see. How far has society fallen? Ads and shows on TV reveal the depth of
degradation.
When I watch heartbreaking news on television, it exposes exactly what
our nation and other nations throughout the world are becoming; countries
accepting the statuesque of sin. It is
an ongoing, calculated erosion of principled living; turning it into
unprincipled slavery.
Satan is on the rampage to deceive and devour as many people as
possible in the time that remains before the end of the world takes place. I call this erosion, “The Collapse of
Readiness.”
When I was a boy, very seldom did I hear disheartening words like
kidnapped, molested, and murdered. Drive
by shootings and “wilding” (where a group of non-empathetic thugs attack and
brutally beat innocent victims) were not commonplace, because the consequences
of such actions was dealt with severely at home by dads or one of dad’s
neighbors or police officers on the beat or the judicial system.
Disrespect and disobedience were not tolerated. Children were expected to tow the line and do
what was right in the eyes of the law, at school, and at home. Most children feared the “woodshed
experience.”
The long and short of today’s societal problems is that kids and adults
are out of control, because accountability has fallen by the wayside. They lack the trepidation that I was raised
with and have little fear of retribution for their actions. No-one seems to know the solution for such degenerate tendencies, yet, the Bible
gives straightforward guidelines pertaining to disobedient children if only they were applied.
In my day the hands of public school teachers, police officers, and
parents were not tied as they are today.
They must abide by strict guidelines of restraint that have ultimately
allowed misguided and hell-bent adolescents to do what they please with little
self-control or respect for authority, which has been prophesied in the New
Testament would happen.
(2 Timothy 3:1-5), “But know
this, that in the last days perilous times will come: vs.2 “For men will be lovers of themselves,
lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy,” vs.3 “unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without
self-control, brutal, despisers of good,” vs.4 “traitors, headstrong, haughty,
lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” vs.5 “having a form of godliness
but denying its power. And from such
people turn away!”
I believe that we are in the last days spoken of in the Bible. Look around you. It is a distasteful, eye opening truth of
what’s happening in every neighborhood, because hoodlums do not fear the
consequences for their blatant disregard for law and order, while discounting
the rights of others.
Fear is not in the vocabulary of perpetrators that commit wicked crimes
against children, because they are protected from the general population of
other prisoners, while incarcerated in prison.
Being separated from freedom is not a deterrent anymore, because
prisoner’s rights groups go above and beyond what is reasonable to make sure
that privileges are adhered to.
Prisoner’s unions also look out for the rights of inmates, even those of
the worst kind. You would think that the
forfeiture of rights should take precedence the moment unlawful behavior is
carried out.
Inmates have all the comforts of home and more in some cases; carpeted weight rooms to workout in, basketball courts, and televisions to watch at their leisure, while eating
three square meals a day. But God will
have the final say on Judgment Day if these men and women do not accept Jesus
as Lord and ask God to forgive them of their sins.
The collapse of goodness, decency, and fare play is at an all-time
high. Integrity is quickly becoming less
and less fashionable in this generation of thrill seekers. But we do not have to throw up our hands in
defeat or give into feelings of helplessness or live in fear.
God cares about the welfare of His children and is touched by the
feelings of their infirmities. A
Believer’s inner strength and the wherewithal to deal with today’s rising crime
rate come from the Father above. He
hears us when we pray and speaks peace to troubled souls when answers seem to
evade our questions.
Though we live in the midst of chaos where young bullies and
hardhearted adults commit heinous crimes against people of all ages, we must
not lose sight of where our protection lays—the Holy Spirit. We need not yield to the collapse of
readiness like those around us are doing, but we have the ability within us to
remain true to Jesus and keep our eyes ever looking for His second return in
the clouds.
I was raised that this phenomena of Jesus’ return will happen when the
inhabitants of earth least expect it. He
will break the eastern sky and with a trumpet sound and shout from the
archangel, the Lord will come back for those that are waiting and looking for
Him.
A collapse of readiness is overshadowing humanity worldwide. People would rather go to a baseball game or
watch weekend football than attend church.
The collapse of moral values and sensitivity to God’s Spirit is all
around us, from actors and producers in Hollywood
The saying, “If it feels good do it.” is quickly
surpassing scriptures that warn against doing such things. It is becoming more and more the norm to seek
gratification than abiding in truth for those lacking readiness to meet
Jesus. This choice of lifestyle does not
change what is or what will be. Though
people change, God’s Word is unchanging—truth is truth and sin is sin.
(Romans 6:23), “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift
of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Galatians 6:7-8), “Do not be
deceived; God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also
reap.” vs.8 “For he who sows to his
flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of
the Spirit reap everlasting life.”
Sadly, the expectancy of Jesus’ return is growing colder and colder in many people. It behooves us all to take note
of where our priorities are.
Indifference coupled with complacency is becoming the rule everywhere
rather than maintaining a readied spirit to meet the Lord.
The collapse of readiness is worse than ever, which should open the
eyes of every Christian; causing them to pursue truth like never before; to be
counted worthy to be called sons and daughters of Almighty God.
(Matthew 24:12-13), “And because
lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” vs.13 “But he who endures to the end shall be
saved.”
Though corruption is all around us, we can remain steadfast in our
faith and not submit to things that would take our eyes off Jesus or the reward
in heaven that He has promised to those that are faithful to the end.
Though others may stray from truth, we through Christ can live in
hope—the hope of God’s salvation—that one day we will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you
were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew
25:21).
This hope is real to those that do not collapse under the load of
temptation, while maintaining readiness for the Lord’s return.
This writing is an admonition to all Believers to resist the devil and
keep minds centered upon Jesus. The Holy
Spirit gives the power to overcome all things.
In Him we stand without fear.
(1 John 4:18-19), “There is no fear
in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in
love.” vs.19 “We love Him because He
first loved us.”
(James 4:7-8), “Therefore submit
to God. Resist the devil and he will
flee from you.” vs.8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to
you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners;
and purify your hearts, you double minded.”
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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