Something is really weighing on me today (whoohoo, surprise!!!) I don’t understand something about our culture, individually, and as whole. What has happened to us? When did we morph into a world where a person’s word means nothing and we seek our own pleasure and to intentionally hurt others openly with total disregard? When did we become a generation of men and women who can’t control ourselves to the point it doesn’t matter what happens past our own desires. When did we become a people that will choose to sacrifice others on the altar of “my own needs/wants?” I KNOW there have always been people like that…but what I don’t understand is why don’t individuals realize that their personal choices are impacting our world…not just their little corner? When did “ME” become so important?
I believe we have an enemy. I believe there is a God, and in turn believe there is a Satan and on a very individual level we are responsible for letting him lose or gain ground. Not even looking at the bigger picture of the world, if you only listen to the news in your own town, you will hear of those whose individual choices left devastation. The most recent Fort Hood shooter destroyed so many lives…including his own family. Yes, his choice will forever affect hisfamily too, and the friends and families of his many other victims. His grandchildren will still know the reminders of those choices. His wife and children, along with each and every family he stole someone from, will forever hurt from this one incident. Why?
Maybe our individual bad choices aren’t literally killing others but they do set the death trap for Satan to make the kill. My bad choices don’t have to be something as dramatic as being a shooter on a military base, but they do come down to each choice, every day. I am going through a divorce, that is not right in any sense of the word and not of my choosing, and it does color my view as I am seeing these things up close and personal; but I am overwhelmed with how callused we, as individuals, have become to the pain we cause others and how we refuse to accept the responsibility for our choices or refuse to make different ones if they might cause us to be personally uncomfortable, have a little pain or just not provide us with the exact pay out we desire. Maybe I shouldn’t write these words because I am as guilty as anyone else. Satan was allowed to destroy my marriage, so he destroyed a family, and in turn, in a way he destroys a church, then he destroys a community, and he destroys future generations. It has been handed him on a silver platter. The keys to the gate of protection have been handed over and the invitation issued, “Come on in and take what you like.”
If I don’t take captive every thought and every choice, I am personally responsible for surrendering my family and a little bit more of this world to an enemy who has come to devour it. I am not perfect, and have caused pain but the very clear truth is the only way to make anything better in this world is to keep trying and keep focusing on the true Word of God and a Savior named Jesus, that died just so that we might have life. Look at what is right and what is true in the face of Christ and keep striving…perfection is not is required…just progress...and through His forgiveness He offers us that every day.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ~Philippians 3:12-14 (NIV)
