Last time, our topic was “A Sensitive Society-A Sign of The End.”
We discovered from the prophecies of Jesus that society in the last days would be “sensitive” or easily offended. Here is the prophecy. It reads like today’s news:
“And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24: 10-14
Notice the order of the underlined words: The condition of society opens them up to false prophets (teachers) and deception abounds. This is where we find ourselves in 2020. Sadly, this deception includes both the political and the church. Why? The prophet Hosea gives us a direct answer.
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you
Hoseah 4:6
Today, we have a lot of information, but not much truth. The source of truth is rejected because it goes contrary to our feelings and our desires. Can anyone with eyes and ears not see Jesus is right? All we have to do is look at our TVs, newspapers, movies, social media….and, yes, even in the pulpits of our churches? The church will become less and less exempt from such feelings. Revelation tells us the worldwide religious society is moving towards a false church and a pure church. Another topic for another time.
All of these traits of the last-day people are because of selfishness and ungodly pride. It is all about “me.” On the other hand, for the sincere born-again follower of Jesus, it is not about you, but about others. You are driven to serve others and lead them to know the Jesus you know and the truth of God’s word.
Before we go on, an observation must be pointed out. Have you ever heard someone say, “These signs have always been around.” It is true, these characteristics of society have always been on planet earth. Our society is not unique to these sins. So, why make a big deal about these signs.
The difference is the scope and intensity. Our day is saturated with these sins and they are highly visible. Never has a generation had the information and ability to see and observe sin in action worldwide or the tools to quickly spread lies and deceit. The world has shrunk to the size of a smartphone. What generation of the past has been so immersed in sight, sound, and taste? Today’s highly paid and educated marketers and politicians use the science of understanding people’s desires and triggers to effectively sell their products and manipulate ideologies and worldviews of the masses.
The other day, I pulled up to a gas pump. When I inserted my debit card and began to pump gas, I was startled by the sound of a TV screen behind me; spouting out news and trying to get me to go in the store and buy something. Everywhere we turn, we see signs and hear the sounds of voices manipulating us. This is not a conspiracy theory, it is the fact of everyday modern life in a consumer society.
Before our time, communication was limited to mouth, mail, and manuscripts. Even in my youth, there were none of the devices that are taken for granted. My Grandfather and Grandmother could not Image an entire library of information and entertainment in your hand! Nor could they image a cashless society, banking on a phone or computer, nor travel in space; not to mention hundreds of TV channels (They had three channels and rabbit ears to get reception on their black and white TVs.)
Our youth’s “deep thinking” often goes no higher than the downward pose to their phone, tablet, or computer.
The availability of distraction and sin can not be found in any other age. Violence, death, perverted sex is now personal private entertainment for almost every age. As a society, we are not getting any better despite laws and the rhetoric of politicians. Paul put it this way:
But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
2 Timothy 3:13
To help us better understand why the signs of the end are more relevant to our current society, lets look at another prophecy of Jesus. He compares the generation before He comes with the days of Noah.
“And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” Luke 17: 26-27
The eating, drinking, marriage, sounds no different than any other generation until you consider the context as recorded in Genesis:
“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (all day long). Genesis 6:5
All of these good things were taken to excess and became the main focus of life. Rich food, alcohol, and many wives. Instead of working to make a marriage work, they simply discarded their spouse like an empty wine bottle and got another sweeter tasting wine. The word “continually” is the Hebrew word for “all day.” Sin and evil were constantly on their mind all day long. From the time they rose until they went to sleep at night.
The marriage ceremony has always been a respected institution created by God for one man and one woman. It the year 2020, it is trivialized away and twisted into a political debate, political correctness, and fodder for confrontation and hatred.
So yes, sin, earthquakes, wars described by Jesus as the signs of our times have always been around, but like a woman in labor, the pains come faster and more consistent before the baby is born. So it is in our days. Our society is saturated with sins and at the same time ignoring and drifting further from God until the conscience is seared and the thoughts are evil every day.
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Now let’s listen to what Paul said would be the escalated trademark sins of the last day.
But know this, that in the last days perilous (stressful) times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. … always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth…”
2 Timothy 3: 1-7
Did you notice all of them have to do with selfishness? It is all about “me.” The focus of these sins is all about living with the thought of eating, drinking, and being merry…for tomorrow we die. 1 Corinthians 15:2. All of this is done to excess because that is their only reward on this earth. The reward for the follower of Christ comes when Jesus comes back:
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me.”
Revelation 22:12
These verses will be our focus next week. But today, I want to focus on one.
Perilous (Stressful times):
Our modern stress is unique from Noah’s day because of a couple of things:
Constantly Being Connected. Our phones remind us when news headlines pop us. Facebook, Twitter, TV’s scream out and make us aware of every bad thing that is happening and in an instant. Our minds are focused on the dictates of the screen. Often we find ourselves stressing over the negative, problems, and finding relief in the trivial. We are being taught how to hate and distance ourselves from those who don’t think as we do. The news and social media are full of deceptions for a society that wants quick simple answers that fit with their worldview.
What would it feel like if you were to detox yourself from all these devices and disconnect? But, let’s go further. How would you respond if you began to focus or think about things that are positive?
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8,9
What if you practiced this? Do you think your thoughts would change?
I will set nothing wicked before my eyes.
Psalm 101: 3
Despite all these signs, there is hope for the one who wants it. For the one who desires peace, joy, and truth. Regardless of your particular sin, God is able to save you to the uttermost. Though your sin be as red as scarlet, His righteousness and power can make your sins go away.
I will end with an important verse. This passage in 1 Corinthians starts out with what we call negative thoughts but ends with beautiful encouragement in Christ.
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11
All of these sins are equal. They all will end in eternal death. But the people who once practiced them no longer indulge in them! All community churches are made of people who were once vile sinners but have repented and turned from their sins. Jesus is able to save us from both the penalty of sin AND the power of sin. We can be washed clean!
Want to be washed? Call on the name of the Lord and His word!
Jesus’ last church on earth will be washed by His word
…He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, Ephesians 5: 26
Bad news ends in good news for those who want it. The most powerful testimony that God’s word is truth is a transformed life.