Ephesians 5.11-14
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’”
Western society is rapidly descending into an Age of Darkness. Both reason and virtue are disappearing quickly, and people are easily deceived into embracing policies and practices that are culturally disruptive and personally destructive.
The list of warped beliefs and behaviors is long and growing longer. To reference just one, who would have predicted that American society would degrade to the point that the prevailing culture proclaims gender is a choice people make based on how they feel, rather than their biology at birth?
And that men who feel like they are women would be granted the right to compete in women’s sports?
And that children in public school—as early as Kindergarten—would be encouraged to explore and express a gender different from their biology at birth?
The darkness is growing because our society has turned away from the light. God is rejected, and his standards are ridiculed. The timeless principles of the Judeo-Christian tradition have been abandoned and replaced with a toxic combination of increasingly authoritarian government, manipulative media, and self-oriented citizenry.
As this darkness spreads and deepens, what are Christians to do? How do we shine the light of truth in our culture and expose the unfruitful works of darkness? How do we stem the tide of moral confusion and chaos? What action steps can we take to rebuild and strengthen our national culture?
As I have posted several times in this devotional, I believe four things need to happen:
- Rediscovery of Truth.
- Reformation of the Christian community.
- Redirection of the human spirit.
- Renewal of the principles and structures of the Constitution.
I believe God is calling Christians to walk in greater degrees of wisdom and obedience. We desperately need wisdom and skill that is born of the fear of the Lord. By “we” I mean those who profess faith in Jesus. There will not be positive change in America until the modern culture sees and experiences true wisdom in the way Christians live and work.
By “fear of the Lord” I mean precisely what scripture teaches: Christians consistently walking as children of light. Living and working in a manner worthy of God’s call on our life. Honoring, respecting, and submitting to the Lordship of Jesus as the Author and Creator of all truth.
“In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1.4-5)
May we have the mindset of Christ, and may we be trained in the wisdom of the Lord as we continue to navigate the challenges of the 21st century. May we honor and submit to the Lord and his truth in all that we think, say, and do.
“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.” (Psalm 86.11)
