Perhaps the greatest victory that Satan has ever won is how he has
convinced mankind that sin is enjoyable and pleasurable.
Human
beings freely engage in all kinds of activities that will lead them nowhere, at
least in spiritual terms -- the quest for money, the quest for satisfaction of
the desires of the flesh, and other such things, and yet how many have really
thought about where all these really lead? Let us ask: can there be true
satisfaction in these endeavors?
Money. While
After all, what happens if you have a dream to have so much money and
then reach it? What happens next? More money is desired. You can never have
enough-- the more you get, the more you want.
Many people who would read this would think to themselves how that is not
true of them: if they had just a little bit more, they'd be satisfied. Well, we
can see the example of many people who have won the lottery and yet go bankrupt
after a few years. Why? Because they were consumed with the love of the money
they had. They went out and bought all the things they had always wanted, and it
was not enough. It was never enough. Satisfaction is never be found in
money.
Sex. Many people believe that the physical
satisfaction they receive from sex will make them happy. Many people will engage
in sexual relationships to try to make them feel better about themselves, to
feel more whole, or to feel strong and attractive. Yet, just as with money, the
satisfaction of the sexual desire leads to a need to continually gain
satisfaction through sex, and suddenly it is no longer about feeling whole but
about feeding a desire.
God designed humans to have sexual desires and provided the proper place
and purpose for the sexual desire: to cement the bond between a man and his wife
(Genesis 2:24). Trying to use sex to make one feel better or more whole is to
mistake the purpose of sex.
Drugs
and Alcohol. Drugs
and alcohol, to some people, are the types of things you do in order to "have a
good time" with other people. Drugs and alcohol, however, often become a means
of escape for people who do not want to face the life they are currently living.
They feel better about themselves when they are high or drunk, and feel as if
they are more liked when high or drunk.
When drugs and alcohol are not about escaping, they are about addiction.
People get on drugs and alcohol and continue to use them while aware of the
death that looms as the result-- why? It makes no good sense. They continue to
use them because they are addicted, feel hopeless, or enjoy the
escape.
We will never find true satisfaction in these physical desires because
they do not address our soul. They do not make us feel "whole". We can only feel
whole when we cast off the burden of our sin and walk in love according to the
will of God. Let us no longer be deceived by sin (Hebrews 3:13)! Jesus said,
"I am the bread
of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me
shall never thirst," (John 6:35).
---Ethan R. Longhenry
A few years ago the cover to a 1996 edition of U.S. News caught my
attention. It asked, "Can Churches Cure
Now, as a Christian my chief allegiance is to God's holy nation of which
I am a citizen (1 Pet. 2:9; Phil. 3:20); but since
Churches must call people back to the Book. It's what
Too many people don't want to be accountable to God and thus they reason
Him away and deny the Bible as His Word. Someone said, "The atheist cannot find
God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman." he doesn't want to.
Churches must remember their mission. People long before us saw the
mission of the church very simply. God's Word was highlighted above all. Some
have even said that when preachers spoke you could "feel the heat." How do
people see churches now? Have we grown so accustomed to churches offering
recreational centers, cafeterias, gyms and the like, that we are impressed with
the need of the physical or the spiritual?
Jesus faced that problem. People came in hoards wanting physical food.
When He made it clear that His mission was to providespiritual food, many walked
away (Jn. 6:26,27, 66-68). A few in the religious world have been willing to
admit that without the physical attractions their numbers would be drastically
reduced. Jesus didn't worry about that. He sadly let them walk away. In fact, if
you'll notice, every time crowds began to build, Jesus' teaching became even
more challenging (Lk. 14:25ff). He wanted those who wanted Him. That's it. The
mission of the church is to preach the truth, period (1 Tim. 3:15). Many years
ago, a French statesman, Alexis De Tocqueville (1805-1859) came to
Local churches must remember their mission. Preaching is growing weaker
in too many places. Preachers must call sin, sin (Jn. 8:31) for, after all,
faith comes by hearing God's Word (Rom. 10:17). Without it,
Churches must encourage attention to home and family. Too many homes
hardly have anyone home. Dads provide (1 Tim. 5:8) but they can be gone too much
in their pursuit of climbing the ladder of success. Moms need to focus their
minds on being keepers at home (Titus 2:4,5). Even kids can be away from home
too much. We must spend time together.
I'll never forget Bro. Connie Adams telling of a yard sale at his
parent's home. Reluctantly, they decided to sell the family table around which
he had sat all of his growing years. There were so many good memories. For most
of the day, it had not sold. Inwardly, Connie was glad. Then...a buyer came,
loaded it up and drove away. Connie said as he saw it go away, he cried. I
understand. How many families today would have such sentimental thoughts about
their table? We need to come home and build our homes on Christ (Matt. 7:24-27).
Churches must teach members to deny worldliness (Rom. 2:17-24; Matt.
5:13-16). If we, one-by-one, will let the Lord put our lives together, the world
will fall into place. If you want to heal
---Jeff
May