Question:  With so much evil being reported in the news today, why don’t we see more people turning to God?

Answer:  More and more people seem to be tolerating or even embracing sinful behavior  today.  We know from scripture that it is sin that separates us from God.  The more a person tolerates sin the more they are likely to move away from being receptive to the Word of God.  Even though we hear plenty of people talking about prayer during times of tragedy, we also know that as soon as the public memorials are over,  many of these same people are continuing to support or tolerate sin.  Instead of living their lives and making decisions based on the Holy Bible, they are supporting ways that go against the teachings of the Bible.  Therefore, they are being rebellious towards God.

A couple of recent articles published on Politico’s website illustrate examples of many people’s apparent tolerance for sinful behavior.  They tell of the political comebacks of two disgraced politicians, Republican Mark Sanford and Democrat Anthony Weiner.   Both of these successful men betrayed their wives.  Sanford publicly admitted to an affair, and Weiner admitted sending sexually revealing pictures of himself to other women.  While many of us still remember these stories being uncovered not that long ago and these men leaving public office — both initially tried to hide what they were doing — we now see their names back in the political headlines.  Weiner came in second  place in a recent poll for New York City mayor (see http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/new-york-city-mayor-poll-anthony-weiner-90174.html?hp=r3).  Sanford just won his party’s nomination to run for a seat in the  US House of Representatives (see http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/anthony-weiner-mark-sanford-90012.html).  Sure, they both apologized for what they did, and yes, if they have sincerely asked God to forgive them, He will.  However, by supporting these men so soon, are people just being forgiving or is it that people just don’t care about sexual sin?

Nevertheless, God knows all our hearts.  He knows if we are being hypocrites by saying we love the Lord while continuing to call right wrong and wrong right.   As Believers, we know that our God will not be mocked.  As written in Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” (NKJV)   Reading on in this chapter of scripture is like reading from events in today’s news headlines.  For we learn in verses 24-32 that  “God  gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and  worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”  Reading this, I think of all those who readily enact laws to protect a tree or baby whale, but not the human child in its mother’s womb from abortion.

The next verses go on to say, “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.  For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.  Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving  in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.”  This passage reminds us of the increasing number of laws being pushed, now, to advance the acceptance of homosexuality and even so-called “homosexual marriage” in our culture.   Remember that God created sex to be between a man and woman in marriage.  According to His Word, sex outside of marriage is sin!  (And no, being “engaged” doesn’t count.)

The rest of these verses list many types of sins people commit:  from being violent and proud to being unloving, unforgiving, and unmerciful.  It says those committing these sins, “who knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.”  Reading these words should make us all seek to live our lives to please God.  For the Bible says in Romans 3:23-24, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”  We can never do enough good deeds to “earn” our way to heaven, and we will never be perfect in this life.  For we are saved by God’s grace through faith in His Son.

Needless to say, we should all be thankful to our Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins.  He took our punishment upon Himself — the punishment we deserved.  The Word says that by asking Jesus to forgive us our sins and  accepting Him as our one and only Savior, we will have eternal life with God in Heaven.  God provided this way for us to be saved because of His great  love for us.  Read John 3:16.  By the help of God’s Holy Spirit living in us, we should want to live our lives to please our Father in Heaven.  Instead of choosing to be rebellious against Him, we should strive to reflect His love through our daily living and being obedient to His Word.  Praise the Lord!

Helpful Links:

Focus on the Family    http://www.focusonthefamily.com

Crown Financial Ministries   http://www.crown.org

The Christian Broadcasting Network   http://www.cbn.com

World Magazine   www.worldmag.com