Truth Decay and the Slide of Society

 

by Jason Lovelace

Key Scripture:

Hosea 6:1-11 – Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the latter rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? For your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. Therefore I have hewed them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth: and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth. For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings. But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me. Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood. And as troops wait for a man, so the company of priests by consent: for they commit lewdness. I have seen an horrible thing in the house of Israel: there is the whoredom of Ephraim, Israel is defiled. Also, Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I return the captivity of my people.

Romans 1:18-32

 

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them: for God hath shewed it to them. For the invisible things of him from creation are clearly seen. Being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of women, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves the recompence that of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Opening Questions:

 
When you look at society today, what do you see? How do you feel about the direction that the people of Japan are going? Will the future be bright and good or dark and dangerous? How are things different now than they were 20, 30, 40, or 50 years ago?

The recent news stories of the terrible murders in the USA at Virginia Tech, the killing of the Mayor of Nagasaki, and the story of the young boy that killed his mother have caused the questions above to go through my mind. How are we doing as a Japanese Society and as a world society? Why are these bad things happening?

Point #1 – First, the Good News:

 
How do you feel when you hear good news? We usually get excited when we hear a good story, or find out that a bad situation went good, right? First, I want everyone today to know that there is hope for you. Jesus Christ offers this hope! The first three verses of our scripture tell us about Jesus Christ. Hosea lived some 700 to 800 years before Jesus Christ was born on Earth. His words here give hope to us, because they are true. There is always, always hope in Jesus Christ. Society may slide into terrible levels; people may commit horrible crimes and do awful things to other people, but Jesus Christ is the same. He never changes. He offers hope to anyone who will receive him. That’s the Good news! In fact, that’s the Gospel Message: Good News, for Jesus Christ has come and offers all who will receive salvation, full and free. Now, the bad news…

Point #2 – When a Society Rejects Jesus Christ, Terrible Times Will come:

 
This chapter from Hosea, the last eight verses, tells us about the judgment that will come upon Israel. Israel time and time again turned away from God. Because of this, Hosea describes the situation in Israel. A similar story can be found about the Roman Empire in the book of Romans. Chapter 1 tells us how the people of that day had turned from God, and because of that, had become more and more terrible in their daily lives. Just like Hosea’s Israel and Paul’s Rome, today’s society is sliding very fast into terrible times. Why? Most of the world now rejects the truth of Jesus Christ. It’s because of this that we see a story about a high school student killing his own mother. It’s also because of this that hear about a college student shooting 30 of his classmates and teachers. In the United States, there are things happening that just 30 years ago were unthinkable! This slide in society has happened because Jesus Christ is rejected as God. When society rejects God, rejects His Truth, and Rejects His Son, terrible times always come…

Point #3 – There Will Come a Day When God’s Patience Runs Out:

 
God is without limit in his love for us. He is without limit in his grace and in his mercy. Many people today make the mistake of thinking that God is limitless in his patience. The truth is, he is not. Hosea 6:11 says this:

 

 

Also, Romans 1:18 says this:

 

 

God’s patience runs out when a society gets so far away from him that evil is the only thing people are thinking about. Genesis 18 speaks of God losing his patience with Sodom and Gomorrah. The result was that these two wicked cities were destroyed. Many people today think that the United States is in the eye of God’s judgment. Many others think that the terrorist attacks on September 11th, 2001, was God’s judgment on the USA. I think that the 9-11-01 terror strikes in the USA were just he beginning. If society in the USA doesn’t return to God, the USA will see far worse than what we saw on 9/11. God passed his judgment and sentence on Israel, on Rome, and on every other civilization that has rejected him. This world will also feel his full judgment so long as we turn away from Jesus Christ.

Point #4 – Before His Judgment Comes, God Will Send Warning:

 
Before God sends his judgment on a society, he will always send a message of warning. In Old Testament times, this was done usually through a prophet. Many prophets came to Israel, warning them of God’s wrath and judgment, but many of these men and women were treated terribly. Some of them were killed. We see the same thing in the world today. God is still sending out his messengers to warn the world of his soon-coming judgment, but people today still choose to turn away. In many places, God’s messengers are still being killed. In spite of this, God is still trying to get people to listen. The slide of society and the falling of morals is the result of Jesus Christ being rejected. So long as this continues, God will continue to warn people of judgment. This is true on a general level and on a personal level. God will warn individual people, too, that judgment is coming, and that salvation is near. Have you accepted that message? Are you listening to God? He will speak to you if you listen.

Conclusion: Truth Decay is Always Seen in the Slide of Society, and God will Judge Those Countries and Those People who turn away from Him.

 

This is the truth, plain and simple. When we as people individually choose to please ourselves, choose to turn away from God, and choose to reject Jesus Christ, we are living in mortal and eternal danger. Countries that reject the truth of the Bible, of God, and of Jesus Christ run the risk of imminent destruction. Rome – possibly the most advanced civilization of the ancient world – has been reduced to ashes and dust, her history preserved now in museums and books. While Israel has returned as a nation, her splendor from the time of Kings David and Solomon is gone. The same can be said for Greece, Ancient China, Egypt, and e very other civilization that has rejected God. What about you? Have you accepted or rejected Jesus Christ? We will all stand before Jesus Christ in judgment. Hebrews 9:27 says that every person has an appointment with death, and then judgment before God. Have you rejected Jesus Christ? Have you turned from him, deciding to live your own way? If you have, my friend you are living in great danger. To die without Jesus Christ is to enter an eternity of torment and pain. Do you want Jesus Christ in your life? You can receive him today, if you but ask him. Let’s pray…

Prayer:

Father in heaven, we thank you for this day. I thank you for your letting me speak to these good people today. We pray for our society, Lord, that we would get our eyes back on you. We pray, Lord, that you would help us to see that we as a nation and as individual people, need you in our lives. Help us today, Lord Jesus, to get to know you, and to receive you as Savior and Lord. Help us to live your way, and help our world society to do the same. We love you today, Father, and we ask all of these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Verse to Remember: