"Let you light so shine before men
that they may see your good words and
glorify your Father which is in Heaven."
- Matthew 5:12

I had noticed small signs of it for some time.

But, I just kind of brushed it aside and pretended it wasn't happening.

I can't pretend anymore.

Tonight, on the way home from an "after-church" fellowship at my pastor's home,  I began to experience some pain in one of my teeth.  I rolled my tongue over the sore tooth and realized that I had a hole in it about the size of the Grand Canyon. :-) 

I began further examining my teeth and found out that this tooth wasn't the only problem area.  Several other teeth were equally in decay.  Some of the require immediate attention.  Something they had been lacking for many months.

As I began thinking about the condition of my teeth, I began questioning, "How can it be this bad?  How did it ever go this far?"  You see, it wasn't too long ago that I had a nice, decay-free set of teeth.  And, even though I had a bit of tooth decay through the months, it was just a bit.  Nothing serious.  In fact, it was so mild that I just brushed it aside and pretended it wasn't happening, instead of doing something about it while I had the chance.

And now, there is a major undertaking awaiting to make things right again. 

It starts with a trip to the dentist.

Christian, I'm convinced that our world is suffering a similar plight.  Oh, it's not TOOTH decay, but rather TRUTH decay.  And it works basically the same way.

Whether we are talking about the rise of homosexuality  and abortion or the removal of prayer and the 10 Commandments or even materialism, entertainment and self-centeredness, there have been too many signs all along the way for us to say that we didn't see it coming.

Instead, we chose to brush it aside and pretend it wasn't happening - not to our world, not to our home, not to ourselves.

We can't pretend anymore.

If we roll our tongues around the mouth of our society we'll find a gaping hole of immorality that makes the Grand Canyon look like a pothole in the middle of the road.  And if we keep examining, we'll see this isn't the only problem.  Our world is in decay with lust, selfishness, and  indifference towards the things of God.  There are things in our lives that require immediate attention.  Perhaps something they have been lacking for many months.

Maybe we wonder, "How can it be this bad?  How did it ever go this far?"  It wasn't too long ago that we had a nice, relatively decay-free society where neighbors helped each other make a way.  A society where you didn't lock your doors and you weren't afraid to walk down the street after dark.  A society whose television sets were used to inform and entertain without perverting and abusing.  A society where divorce, homosexuality and abortion were words that never formed on our lips and certainly not an integral part of our way of life.  "How can it be this bad?  How did it ever go this far?"

It started with noticing a bit of TRUTH decay through the months, and brushing it aside because it didn't seem too serious.  It continued through years of pretending it wasn't happening, instead of doing something about it.  And it came to where we are today by moving past pretending towards tolerating all these things as "alternative" lifestyles.

And now, there is a major undertaking awaiting to make things right again. 

And I'll tell you where it starts.  It starts with a trip to the Great Dentist, the Lord Jesus Christ.  It starts with honest self-examination and honest repentance and honest prayer to the One who can make things right.  It's not beyond hope...because Jesus IS hope.

It just takes a group of individuals who are committed to righteousness.  Who are loyal to Christ.  Who desire to make a difference and plug in the holes of evil and wickedness with the fruits of purity and holiness.

It takes a group of individuals who are empowered by the Holy Spirit to walk in the light.  And shine the light on the darkness of the world.  And let Jesus be lifted up in what they say and do, that He might turn this world around again.

Will you be among that group?

Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown
\o/ Praise Jesus!