The Universal Struggle for Equality
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition (II Thessalonians 2:3).”
This verse of scripture had begun to occur as soon as Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden. That is something real, not imagined. Words signify things. Not all who read the Bible are in really studying it. Most students of the Bible simply can not, or will not mentally grasp or accept truth.
“The wages of sin is death” The word of God says, “The LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. The LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die (Genesis 2: 15-17).”
It was not long before Eve succumbed to temptation, “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat (Genesis 3: 6).” “The rest is history,” as the saying goes.
The Bible is replete with accounts of the people of God “falling away” and repenting. Each time however as in the story of the “Pit and the Pendulum” in the end the pendulum finally finds its mark.
There is an old saying which has been attributed to the Chinese, the Romans, the Spanish and only God knows how many more cultures, “the first lie is difficult the second one comes easy.” Why? In the case of Eve, she took a bite, perhaps only a nibble at first. She did not drop to the ground dead. She had disobeyed God and apparently nothing happened. It was the same with Samson, Delilah said, “The Philistines be upon you, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him (Judges 16: 20).”
The Spirit of the Lord had departed from Adam and Eve “and they knew it not.” They did know suddenly they were aware of their nakedness; they were ashamed and they were afraid (Genesis 3: 7).
It started with Eve however so the other cultures only copied it. The law was given, Eve started a dialogue with the serpent (Satan in disguise). She didn’t give in at first she quoted God; but, she added her own embellishment “neither shall you touch it, lest you die (Genesis 3: 3).“ The Bible also is replete with admonishments neither to add to nor take away from the word of God; but, to tout their own wisdom many of God’s people add to and take away more often than not.
Nakedness in modern times with few exceptions is a sign of freedom; no one is afraid of appearing openly in some state of partial or total nakedness and very few are ashamed. Actually it is done with a great deal of pride. In the entertainment industry it is expected of entertainers to appear totally or partially naked. Both men and women sell their bodies, prostitute themselves. To quote a cigarette advertisement of a few years ago “You’ve come a long way baby, to get where you’ve got to today!”
History is witness to the rise and fall of mankind over the centuries. The “road“ of history is marked with huge, deep “pot holes” where mankind departed from the law of God and He departed from them.
The pendulum swings but each time its course of travel shortens slightly. It has reached a point where revivals of Christian morals and mores are almost non existent with the advent of socialism, liberalism and the politically correct movement. People are “naked” and “afraid.” God calls to them but they run and hide from God as did Adam and Eve (Genesis 3: 8).
Morals have ceased to exist in western culture because as the pendulum swung back and forth in society the church followed it and today a Christian is undistinguishable from a non-believer. Dress, customs, habits, music, language are so similar it is impossible to tell the Christians from the atheists without a program.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.”
A very great amount of time has intervened between the fall of man and the man of sin being revealed. In fact the “Son of Perdition” has not been revealed yet; but, his predecessors (Judas Iscariot) began early in Christianity . Perhaps he is alive and well today and is in the wings awaiting his entrance onto the stage of human events. Perhaps not.
No man knows the hour or the day of the appearance of either the Son of Perdition or the Son of God; neither do the angels nor did the Son of God while he was on earth. The struggle for equality is the struggle for equanimity; balance, calm, peace. The pendulum must stop swinging. Those who try to hang on for the ride will be flung off. Those who try to lie still beneath the blade will be cut to ribbons. No one will be spared.
Who then, can save us from this peril? God says in His word, “the world is mine, and the fulness thereof (Psalm 50: 12).” This is the only force that can save. “The [free] gift of God[through grace] is eternal life” through Jesus Christ (Romans 6: 23),” Amen, amen and amen!
- ‘…them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage [sell themselves economically].” (Hebrews 2:15)
Loading ...