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Lessons From a Changing World
Anyone who lived in the 1950's or 1960's has witnessed great changes in our society. These changes have come so fast and moved so swiftly that if one fifty years ago had been told of these coming changes I am certain that he would not have believed them. Any change within the society around us will have a corresponding effect upon Christians in that society. A careful study of the churches of Asia in the book of Revelation reveals the struggle that must take place in the heart of every Christian against the surrounding social conditions.
Changing morals and decaying societies are not new in human history. We may as a country be moving even more rapidly towards self-destruction than societies of the past, but as Christians we can rest in the certainties of an unchanging God and His revealed will. In the hymn "Abide with Me" we sing: "Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changes not, abide with me!" Indeed God Himself has told us "For I am the LORD, I do not change." (Malachi 3:6)
How can we resist the raging currents pulling us within this culture? We look to the God who is far greater than anything men or the rulers of men could ever say or do. In Isaiah God says: "Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket, and are counted as the small dust on the scales." (Isaiah 40:15) The promise of God's continual care and guidance makes the shallow and false promises of the world seem as nothing. Our challenge is to build and maintain an unshakable faith in an unchanging God. Do you daily glory in the promise that God made when He said: "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)
We need the wisdom of God to see this world for what it is and to overcome the efforts of Satan to subvert our faith. God has plainly described both the end of worldly things and the means of attack Satan will use. "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." (1 John 2:15-17)
