For this entire past week, the focus of world attention has all been on the passing of pop icon Michael Jackson.
From newspapers-tabloids -TV stations - heads of state -- to masses of ordinary people, it appears to be the only topic of importance.
Never mind that Iran is killing innocent people in the streets -- that North Korea is threatening nuclear and biological warfare toward anyone with a dissenting opinion - that over one billion people go to bed hungry every night and increasing famine is looming -- that the global economy is on the brink of utter collapse -- never mind these things! It's all insignificant in the order of importance when compared to Mr. Jackson's passing.
Can we just stop for a moment and look at this?
Let's look at what has become the standard of our "idol worship" here in America.
Granted, Michael Jackson was a talent and his passing is not something anyone should be happy about -- but to put this type of "role model" forth as a standard - bearer for our time explains why the aforementioned national and world problems have befallen us.
This guy had some serious issues! --- For years he spent untold amounts of money on altering his appearance (anyone think for the better?) -- He was several times brought up on child molestation charges (they were dropped, but money can buy many things) -- drugs and alcohol played a major role in his life (probable cause of death) -- bizarre behavior followed him wherever he went (hanging a baby out a window as an example) --
Why is it that we prop up these kinds of people? -- That we put forth these kinds of individuals as role models for ourselves and our children?
Throughout the history of rock and pop music, we have idolized these kinds of characters. Look at the late 60's for example. Jim Morrison, Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin are all viewed as "heroes" of the music movement. -- Does no one remember that all three of them died of drug overdoses?!
I realize that its natural for people to have and desire a "mental salve" to take their minds off their collective societal and spiritual wounds, but why not something or someone with higher moral and/or spiritual values?
Galatians 5:17 says, "For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature..." Then verse 19 goes on to say, "The acts of the sinful nature are obvious; sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom of God."
Do these things sound familiar in our society?
I've talked in the past about America's role in latter-day prophecy -- that she will not play a major part because of her decline as a world power. -- Why? - A couple of quick reasons is her moral decay and her increasing abandonment of Israel.
Specifically, we as a nation have not learned a thing from history. Let's look at a comparison -- In his masterpiece, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Edward Gibbons identified five major causes that contributed to Rome's demise:
1. The breakdown of family (This is obvious)
2. Increased taxation (Just watch what Obama and is boys and girls are promoting)
3. Insatiable craving for pleasure (more to come in a moment...)
4. Unsustainable build-up of armaments (Just look around the world -- and now, as in the past, we will need to sell more of our military technologies to those who hate us so we can pay some bills)
5. The decay of religion (I could, and God-willing, will fill a book on this tragedy)
All are obviously taking place in our nation today, but for now, let's go back to number three, "The insatiable craving for pleasure".
2 Timothy 3:1-4 says, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."
This passage sounds like a typical evening newscast today! -- Let's notice also the three things people will love in the end times -- self, money and pleasure.
The love of self is humanism -- the belief that man can accomplish anything on his own. The love of money is materialism. When humanism is your religion, your god will always be money. The love of pleasure is the third love that is mentioned. This is hedonism, the lifestyle that is always produced by humanism and materialism.
And what do you get when you put all these together? -- nihilism -- which is a fancy philosophical word for despair.
Need I emphasize that our nation is wallowing in despair today? We live in a society plagued by abortion, homosexuality, domestic violence, child molestation, blasphemy, pornography, alcoholism, drug abuse, and on and on ---
Now to see the likes of a troubled soul like Michael Jackson dominate our hearts and minds for days on end is living proof of the depths of desperation that has descended upon us.
In Luke 18:8, Jesus asked, "...when the Son of man cometh"
It is becoming more difficult by the day, and it will get worse, but we, the remnant, must stand firm in the ways of our faith.
Let us be the light and hope in this ever-increasing darkness that surrounds us. Some will see it and will come to the Kingdom because of it.
"Be merciful to those who doubt: snatch others from the fire and save them...." Jude 22-23
Until next time,
Red