40 And [Peter] solemnly and earnestly witnessed (testified) and admonished (exhorted) with much more continuous speaking and warned (reproved, advised, encouraged) them, saying, Be saved from this crooked (perverse, wicked, unjust) generation. – Acts 2:40 AMP
These words by Peter at the end of his very first sermon are profound. The world was over six weeks removed from Jesus’ crucifixion. Things in Jerusalem had seemingly gone back to normalcy. Jesus’ followers had disappeared, and all the talk about Him walking the earth had ceased in certain circles. There were some rumors floating around that some had actually seen Him ascend in to heaven, but all such talk had been reduced to hearsay or fanaticism, depending on the source.
Then the Day of Pentecost came. A bunch of foreigners together started speaking in several different languages. The immediate conclusion of those unaware of the coming of the Holy Spirit was drunkenness. Enter Peter. He quickly stood up and told the crowd what was going on. He told them to repent of their sins and be saved from this crooked generation.
A crooked generation existed in the days of Jesus? Oh yeah. Jesus actually walked the earth and still couldn’t reach everyone. Religious leaders had him executed because they feared the impact He would have on their world. But Peter was not the first person to use the term crooked generation. Moses called the Israelites a crooked generation (Deuteronomy 32:5). And after Peter, Paul spoke about Christians living uncontaminated lives in the midst of a crooked generation (Philippians 2:15).
Now my question is this: if the group Peter and Moses spoke to were crooked generations, what do you call the generation we’re living in now? The Amplified Bible defines crooked as perverse, wicked, and unjust. Webster adds the phrase winding in moral conduct to the list. I am convinced that if Peter were alive today that he would blow his top. We all know from the Bible that he had a temper. But look at our society today. Immorality runs rampant. Homosexuality is not only viewed as an alternative lifestyle, but those practicing it enter churches and rarely ever see their life as sinful. Even Christians are so greedy for money they use any means necessary for gain and feel like it is okay as long as they tithe on their earnings. All are truly the signs of a crooked generation.
It’s sad, but there is an obsession in our society to be the best. People have to have the best car, the biggest house, and the finest jewelry. People have to do things better than anyone else. Even where Christianity is concerned, there is an obsession to be the best. Churches have become larger, some sanctuaries seating over ten thousand. Some churches have become so large that they have associate pastors assigned to certain zip codes. But is bigger better? The more expensive car and the larger house many times lead to larger bills. Many times larger congregations lose a sense of intimacy that give believers an environment where they feel open to share their heart. Sometimes these churches specialize in encouragement but never warn or teach about sin in people’s lives. And very often these churches raise up a body of professed believers who know plenty about salvation and love, but don’t know a thing about living godly lives.
So who’s the crooked generation? Is it our society or are Christians the unjust ones today? How many Christians have stood in approval when their church hires a homosexual pastor? How many church members never confront their pastor when he strays from teaching true Biblical principles? How many Christian parents dismiss their child’s behavior as being part of the world we live in? All actions like these stray from moral conduct as laid out in the Bible. Christians doing such things make themselves members of this crooked generation.
The great thing about living in a crooked generation is that you can be saved from it. But it all starts with choices. After Peter’s sermon, three thousand people were saved at once. He didn’t fluff things over or water things down. He knew those he spoke to needed Jesus, and his words cut them to the heart. And they chose to have a relationship with the Savior of the world.
Are you ready to be cut to the heart? Are you ready to give up your beliefs for God’s Truth? Are you willing to throw away your conduct and conduct your life the way God wants you to? When you are, only then can you be saved from this crooked generation.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW
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