Times That Try Men's Souls by Tom Roberts
(Reprinted from Watchman Magazine http://www.watchmanmag.com/)
Someone said, "These are the times that try men's souls." Naturally, we are inclined to think that our times are worse than any others that have ever been and while such isn't so, these times are our times so we are the ones who are being tried today.
Without a doubt, souls are being tried and tested.
Moral Trials
Young people are experiencing tremendous temptations on every
hand. Sex is pictured as being the most desired part of life and
few are remaining virtuous. There is a constant stream of influence
through TV shows that portray boys and girls, men and women living
together, in bed together, having babies without wedlock, dancing,
scantily dressed, and with few morals. The norm in our day is
to view sex without the sanctity of marriage as acceptable. Movies
also are an influence toward evil as every conceivable moral code
is violated. Some movies have been advertised that portray incest,
child abuse, sadism, homosexuality, adultery and every form of
illicit sex.
With this flood of propaganda flooding the nation, it is of little wonder that many young people are led to believe that any standard of morality and virtue is out of date and no longer any good. But "God is not mocked" (Galatians 6:7) and we should not be deceived by appearances. The decline of our nation can be directly attributed to such evil influences. Without morals, man is capable of any vice. Therefore, any immoral influence (such as these named) is a cancer that eats away at the moral fiber of a nation.
The Family
Our families are also being tested. Pressures are being put upon
the family unit that is literally breaking it apart. Pressures
from the market place (how much money can we make?), our busy
schedules (with no time at home), the drive for recreation (even
if it kills us!), and the generation gap (another phrase for selfishness),
all attempt to destroy our homes. There is no more basic building
block of civilization than the home. Destroy that and we have
only the Lord and His church as the refuge of the soul. But watch
it: when the home is weak, involvement in the Lord's church also
suffers. When families get in trouble, they will stop attending
services, forsake God and fall completely into the world. One
of the danger signals that should alert elders to problems facing
the church are the danger signals coming from families. We need
to redouble our efforts to strengthen homes. The decline of our
nation can be directly attributed to the decline of our homes.
Women's lib and the associated evils have shaken our values for
men and women, parents and children. Unless and until we return
to the basic Bible teaching regarding God's will for happy families,
we will have no peace.
The Church
The church is also being tried in our generation. No doubt, every
generation has had its own testing, but this in no way alleviates
our own problems. We have seen, in one short generation, a major
division within the church with multitudes of minor splinters
within these divisions. Liberalism has so devastated the Lord's
people until it is difficult to tell some churches from a country
club. The work of the church has been lost in a maze of social
reforms. The worship of the church has been turned into play-acting
with children's churches, puppet shows, theater groups and after/before
dinner speakers. Spirituality is no longer a sufficient reason
to serve God; we must also be entertained. Lost somewhere in this
maze are the few who seek to worship God in spirit and truth.
And these few are ridiculed as "anti" and worse. So
few have the strength to stand the test.
The Answer to Our Trials
What is the answer to the trying of our souls? Brethren, is it
any different than it has ever been? From the time of the prophets
until now, the answer has always been, "The just shall live
by faith" (Hebrews 10:38).
There is no short cut and no other solution. God has said, "But
my righteous one shall live by faith: and if he shrink back, my
soul hath no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that shrink
back into perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving
of the soul." My faith rests upon what God has said (Romans
10:17) and I must face temptation (the trying of my soul) by obedience
to and trust in God. When young people are tested by the lure
of the world, their answer must be to live in a manner that pleases
God. When families are put under pressure by an ungodly environment,
we must retreat into positions of strength as outlined by God:
family love, concern, fidelity, worship and mutual trust. When
churches are faced with forces of liberalism and other "isms"
they must return to a "thus said the Lord" for all that
they do and believe. There are solutions to our problems, but
we must trust God for them...there are no others.
Abraham had his own "time that tried his soul." So did Isaac, Jacob and all the patriarchs. So did Moses and Esther and all those characters revealed to us in the scriptures. In fact the scriptures reveal these stories for the very purpose that we might find the answers and find the strength to face our own "times of testing." "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that through patience and through the comfort of the scriptures we might have hope" (Romans 15:4).
My brother, my sister, do you have hope for the future? If not, you need to read your Bibles. God put these stories in the Bible so that a "cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1) will impart hope to us. They had their own time that tried their souls but they overcame by faith in God. Let us take cheer that we may also be able to overcome and join that elect band. The stakes are high but the reward is great. These are the "times that try men's souls" but we are equal to the task through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Too Busy? - Author Unknown (Contributed by B. Embry)
Satan called a worldwide convention of demons. In his opening address he said, "We can't keep Christians from going to church. We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their Savior. Once they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners, but steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with Jesus Christ.
This is what I want you to do", said the devil: "Distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"
"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.
"Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent
innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered.
"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."
"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the
husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they
can afford their empty lifestyles." "Keep them from
spending time with their children." "As their families
fragment, soon, their homes will offer no
escape from the pressures of work!" "Over-stimulate
their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."
"Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever
they drive." "To keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs
going constantly in their home and see to it that every store
and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly."
"This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ."
"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."
"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day." "Invade
their driving moments with billboards." "Flood their
mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and
every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products,
services and false hopes." "Keep skinny, beautiful models
on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward
beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with
their wives." "Keep the wives too tired to love their
husbands at night." "Give them headaches too!"
"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they
will begin to look elsewhere." "That will fragment their
families quickly!" "Give them Santa Claus and the Christmas
shopping season to distract them from teaching their children
the real meaning of the virgin birth of Christ." "Give
them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about his resurrection
and power over sin and death." "Even in their recreation,
let them be excessive." "Have them return from their
recreation exhausted." "Keep them too busy to go out
in nature and reflect on God's creation." "Send them
to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies
instead." "Keep them busy, busy, busy!" "And
when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip
and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."
"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no
time to seek power from Jesus." "Soon they will be working
in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for
the good of the cause."
"It will work!" "It will work!"
It was quite a plan! The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there. Having little time for their God or their families. Having no time to tell others about the power of Jesus to change lives.
I guess the question is: has the devil been successful at his scheme?
You be the judge! Does "busy" mean:
B-eing
U-nder
S-atan's
Y-oke?
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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34748.
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BIBLE INSIGHT is published for the members of, and visitors to,
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Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
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