Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday October 2, 2007

A few weeks ago I drove way out into the farming country of Indiana to hear my old friend, Joe Sollars preach. Joe was conducting a revival meeting in the boonies and the setting brought many memories of churches in a similar setting all across the country. During the service Joe really got to the hearts of the gathered folks and lives were touched and I'm sure many lasting changes took place.

Joe made a statement that leaped out from the rest of his very good sermon and I speared it with my pen as it floated by. I have mused on it and it won't go away so I must comment.

Here is the statement that Joe made in passing:

"In our time Luminaries have replaced the Light of The World."

Joe did not mean that Paris Hilton is now the savoir of mankind, but that were she to suddenly pick up a Bible and start talking about Jesus, multitudes would not be concerned whether or not she actually knew Jesus or anything at all about His teaching or the Bible, but would as thirsty sheep crowd any venue where she was holding forth.

That professing Christendom has departed from any concern for the unadulterated Word of the Lord is evidenced on every hand by the licentious lifestyle of the novices who while acknowledging the truth of grace refuse the truth that the grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live soberly and righteously in this present world.

I talked with a teen that is going through the throes of bitterness over the breakup of the family. Said teen wondered to me, "Why?" The question was not centered on the apparent why, but why can our family attend church, serve in a high profile position, carry Bibles and then live like they have never read the Bible? I asked several questions and established a truth that helped. The teen needed a device that is essential to health. There was only enough money to buy the device or to pay for a "really fun" trip. Which do you want? Surprise, "I want to go." At that point the counseling session became easier as the teen realized that personal pleasure was more important than personal health. Along the same line, the parents, though "High profile" lives at the same level of spiritual discernment and commitment as the teen, "Living for my personal pleasure is more important to me than the sanctity of the family I vowed my loyalty to."

Biblically the lifestyle of the teen and the family is identified as "Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God," spotlighting a total misplacement of true value.

In fairness to the teen, the human race is on record as choosing the path of pleasure over the road of righteousness. Unless they surrender to the teaching of God's GRACE.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit.

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