Godly men in every generation
have lamented the wickedness of the earthly societies in which
they have been placed. The reason for this is that those
men who have been awakened by the Spirit of God to behold the
righteousness of Christ can find no resting place in this world
as they have been given consciences which are tender and offended
by the rejection of the standards of God. We speak not simply of
those standards which are in the letter of the law, but rather
those things which are a matter of the heart and mind. We sometimes
hear men speak of days in the past which they would presume
were the epitome of holiness and an adherence to the way of
the Lord by those who are now long dead. Those who are content
to compare righteousness from one age and society to another,
especially to that of the present day, can build a case for a godly
past in the foundations of our own society. Many would mistakenly
believe that if we could just get back to our roots, then the
ills of society would lessen and maybe even vanish. This is
a foolish notion which rests on a denial of the total depravity
of men and fails to recognize that all men will be as wicked
as they can be apart from the restraining grace of God. Men
are by nature self-serving and self-destructive apart from the
mercy of God to keep them from this path which ultimately spells
their doom. Religious and self-righteous
men believe that such is surely not the case, as they opine that
men can of their own free will escape from the morass of sin
which envelops every society upon the face of the earth. These
men can readily identify the besetting sins of our day, such
as abortion, sodomy, drug abuse, and Internet porn. Yet they cannot
see that these things are not the problem, but are rather the
symptoms of the true problem which can in no wise be solved
by legislation, activism, or any activity which begins with
the free will of men. Nor can society be healed if
everyone were to avoid these outward manifestations of wickedness.
We sometimes hear men say that judgment is going to fall on
our society because of the rise and acceptance of sodomy. Yet
the reality is that rampant sodomy is the manifestation of God's
judgment upon a people who will not worship Him rather than its
cause. Sodomy is, in itself, no worse
sin than any other. Yet it is singled out as a particular
judgment which is vested upon those nations who forget God.
Who can tell us of a nation where this is not the case? Where on
earth would one find any nation or society that falls upon its
collective face in worship of the one true and living God who
rules in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the
earth, giving glory to the name of Jesus Christ as both the Savior
of sinners and the eternal God? There are none. I hope to be
thankful for being given the privilege to live in the greatest
nation upon the earth. But I hope also not to be lulled
into thinking that any nation in the earth is walking in godliness.
We see Jeremiah lamenting the wickedness of the nation of Israel,
even though Israel was given every advantage and favor. There
have been periods of time when there was more outward civility,
respect of authority, and general morality in our nation than we
can perhaps see in the present age. Yet this was not due to
the free choice of men or some supposed spark of divinity in
them, but rather the blessing of God, who has from time to
time seen fit to more greatly restrain the inward corruption
of men. When He is pleased to remove
this restraint, men quickly turn like a sow that was washed to
its wallowing in the mire. It is in these times that we
can clearly see what man is by nature. and to view his natural
rebellion against the way of God, which is sometimes hidden
to the view of those who suppose man to be basically good. The
Lord identified the error of Israel, as He said they had forsaken
the fountain of living waters. By nature men will not come to
this fountain, which is a well springing up into everlasting
life. This is a fountain which is open to all who will drink
from it, yet not one will drink even a drop of it unless the
Lord gives it to them. Thus this is a fountain of mercy,
and not merit. Men cannot boast of availing
themselves of its supply, but can merely give thanks that He
has caused them to drink. Have you drunk of this water?