YBible Thoughts Y

December 6, 1998

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them; for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of”(Ephesians 5:11-12).

 

There existed in the days of Abraham’s nephew, two cities that had given themselves over to the fulfillment of the vilest of lusts. Without shame and having no feeling for righteousness, their ungodly actions led to the destruction of both of the communities. It is apparent from the example of the end of these cities, that God will not always tolerate iniquity in the human race.

The society in which we live is infected with the same type of spiritual diseases that plagued Sodom and Gomorrah. The shameful actions they engaged in were taken into the public as they abandoned any sense of righteous conduct. It is the duty of God’s people to teach(reprove) those who follow the “unfruitful works of darkness.”

A society can live in ungodliness and perversion only for a limited time. Such a society will reach a point where the solution is to destroy it. “And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly”(II Peter 2:6). The shame of iniquity destroyed them; can the same happen to our society?

A moral deterioration has occurred within a generation that would have seemed impossible a few years ago. The practice of sin is unfortunate enough; even worse is to give it the stamp of approval. From sexual sins to lying to stealing to disregard of any moral standards, the behaviors of our day are beginning to mimic those of Sodom and other cities and countries who have embraced sinful practices.

There is a man who is frequently in the news that practices “assisted suicide.” If this practice is continued, how long until we have euthanasia(mercy killing). And how far until we dispose of the aged, the unwanted, and anyone who society deems to be unacceptable to the general public?

Those who practice sins of the nature mentioned desire that nothing be said against their misconduct and they are to be accepted without questioning their morals. However, the approval of society does not make one right. Proper moral conduct is defined by the Creator, not by the creation!

The Christian does not desire to hurt the person who is in sin. The Christian desires to help them to be free from sin and live a life that pleases God. Christians do not use force to influence people. Those who do use force are not being Christians and are as guilty of sin as the ones whom they oppose. Demonstrations of the type that sometimes occur in our cities are not the type of actions of Jesus while he was upon the earth. He taught people a better way of life; this is our responsibility.

The influence of righteousness starts with each of us. We must set an example of behavior that will lead people in the direction of Jesus Christ. Christians must avoid the sins of the world, teach by example and word, and live the kind of life that promotes the way of the Lord. Let each of us live a life that we will never be ashamed of when we stand in the presence of God.

To My Friends:

As I walk down the sidewalk with all my belongings,

I think of my friends and then I start crying.

I'll always remember the good times we had,

And try very hard to forget the bad.

 

I'll make my plans to see you again;

Someplace, somewhere, but I won't know when.

But there is one thing I do know about my friends,

I'll see you in heaven when judgment begins.

 

As we go out to seek our new lives,

We'll try very hard to make good wives.

Our children will follow just what we do;

May God always help us, me and you.

 

And then when we become old and gray,

Our children will come to us and say:

I want to become a disciple of God,

Then our hearts will rejoice to know they're saved.

 

When it is summer and they're out of school,

They'll come to camp to help their soul.

May we help them to always see the light

Because we went to camp and did what was right.

-Lisa Yopp(1972)

(Written during a private Bible camp...now living what she wrote.)

Bible Thoughts Index

 Home Page

1